According to Nobel Prize-winning Daniel Kahneman, we experience approximately 20,000 individual moments a day. Each moment lasts but a few seconds and rarely do we recall a neutral encounter.
The memorable moments are either positive or negative. In some cases, Kahneman found, a single encounter can change your life forever. Many studies have shown that we are more aware of the threat of bad things than the prospect of good things. Our negative tripwires are far more sensitive than our positive triggers.
Our very nature is to be more fearful than happy.
This is why encouragement is so important. The nature of negative emotions hinders our focus, concentration, and cognitive abilities. When we are encouraged, optimistic, and hopeful we open ourselves up to new possibilities and it can lead to explosive increases in performance.
"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter - it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
— Mark Twain
Encouragement which spurs hope and engagement is incredibly powerful!
The death rate, in North Korean POW camps, during the Korean War was an incredible 38%, the highest in U.S. military history. What makes this so shocking is that there was adequate water, food, and shelter and the camps were nearly void of physical abuse and torture. Even more surprising was that these camps were often not surrounded by barbed wire or armed guards.
The Red Cross reported that few prisoners, upon their release, even bothered to call home when offered the opportunity.
What then could have possibly lead to such a high death rate? A commissioned study of the situation concluded it was “miramus” which is simply extreme hopelessness.
How did their captors rob these highly trained professionals of all hope? Primarily a combination of extreme self-criticism,withholding all positive emotional support and consistently delivering bad news immediately. Their captors discouraged them to death. The lack of encouragement and emotional support lead soldiers to crawl into a corner and die.
Encouragement is powerful, and too often taken for granted.
- Gallup in their research on employee engagement consistently finds that a lack of encouragement is at the heart of employee disengagement.
- Research shows that relationships improve and performance rises when the the ratio of encouragement to negative feedback is at least 3 to 1.
- Studies of successful and lasting marriages found the ratio of positive to negative feedback was 5 to 1.
- Consistent encouragement has been found to raise performance up to 39%.
- The 2013 Gallup Student Poll reports, 46% of the students feeling stuck and discouraged.
“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I many not forgive you. Encourage me and I will never forget you.”
— William Arthur Ward
Encouragement is a primary tool of great leaders, coaches, parents, spouses, and friends. The key to delivering encouragement comes from the heart. It is the essence of expressing care, concern, and love.
If you want to raise your encouragement game, look for the upcoming launch of Impactful Notes. ImpACTful Notes is the quick, easy and powerful tool for receiving and sharing daily inspiration, encouragement, and motivation. Learn more by clicking on the ImpACTful Notes logo, on the side bar, on the right.
“Every day is busy and filled with new challenges and demands. ImpACTful Notes is an incredible resource that helps me pause, take a deep breath and get focused on what truly matters. The knowledge and skills they impart are important daily reminders that help me do my best."
—Justin, 21, Recent College Graduate
Why do you think encouragement is so important to our health and performance?
When you encourage, you help others in courage and courageously reach higher and strive to achieve more.
Scott, so true. We have to make the commitment to be encouragers and as a husband, father and coach you know who important it is to the health of relationships and performance.