A blog by Helen Cramman. Posted: 26 March 2024
Last week, I attended a mentor training session for a group of 10 staff from Higher Education Institutions across the UK, which was introducing them to the principles of the Thinking Environment. Towards the end of the day, after lots of practice of conducting Thinking Rounds and Thinking Pairs, the concept of Appreciation was introduced to the group.
Appreciation takes place at the end of a thinking session and asks each of the thinkers to acknowledge something they have appreciated about the way the other person carried out their thinking. The principle behind this is that the brain does its best thinking when we are feeling appreciated. The person receiving the appreciation just has to say “Thank you”.
In introducing the concept, the trainer commented that over time you may notice patterns in what people say they appreciate about you and that you may wish to consider these as being attributes that are your core strengths.
Turned on its head
This statement turned on its head the way I had been thinking on the comments I had been receiving when being appreciated.
I enjoy the appreciation at the end of a Thinking Session. I find it hugely beneficial to my mental health to hear someone articulate what they find good about me (although, I am not sure I will ever get over feeling slightly uncomfortable about being on the receiving end of appreciation).
However, for some time, I had been noticing I had been slightly frustrated that I kept getting similar comments over and over from different thinking partners. I had considered this consistency to be a negative, I wanted there to be more to me than just a small handful of things people appreciated about me.
The trainer’s statement was a lightbulb moment. It completely reframed for me how to think about the appreciation I receive.
I am not a one-trick pony, instead, I have a set of strengths that people consistently see in me.
A new appreciation
So, from now on I will consider the appreciation I receive slightly differently. It has gained even greater value for me now I see it as also being a window to understanding my strengths.
I have a newfound appreciation for the power of appreciation.
So, next time you have the opportunity to appreciate someone, go ahead and do it. Help them to know their strengths (even if they might feel a little uncomfortable being on the receiving end).
Other posts by the author:
This post is part of a series of posts by the author considering the components of the Thinking Environment. Other posts on the ten components include:
Attention: Will you gift me some time?
Place: Room without a view
Educational Ponderings 