Michelle needed to run by the grocery store during her lunch break, and because it’s October in the USA, that means it’s Halloween month! Fittingly, the grocery store had every shape and size of a pumpkin you can imagine; there was even this small basket of mini pumpkins.
They were very cute – with a wide body and a long stem on top. Michelle immediately thought of a co-worker who was having a bad day; the co-worker’s morning presentation didn’t go well, and he had a lot of work to get cleaned up by day’s end. Michelle picked up one of the small pumpkins, put it in her shopping basket, and bought it for her co-worker.
When she got back to the office, Michelle walked up to her co-worker’s desk and set the pumpkin down. Michelle said: I got this mini pumpkin for you.
Her co-worker looked down at the pumpkin, then up to Michelle, smiled, and said thanks.
Now, I’m sure many of you do things for co-workers and customers every single day. It’s a task, it’s an action, you’re giving them information or handing over some product. You’re having a conversation with the other person.
And believe it or not, the simple phrase for you makes a big difference to them:
- I tracked down a status update for you.
- I verified that the transaction went through for you.
- I pulled this quick summary together for you.
- I’m going to submit this request now for you.
- I initiated the return for you.
- I booked the conference room for you.
- I followed up on that item for you.
- I got this mini pumpkin for you.
With most of us, having somebody do something for us is a wonderful thing, but we might not fully realize or appreciate what they did unless there was some verbal reinforcement of the action. And when that verbal reinforcement includes for you, it makes us feel special, it makes us feel like we got a little gift.
When you do something for others, weave in the phrase “For You.”
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