Monday, February 7, 2011

How to Encourage Someone

When you encounter a person who’s discouraged, giving advice or offering solutions doesn’t help them. So what is effective? There are actually four things you can do to encourage someone who’s in a bad place. When you apply these steps, you’ll be amazed at the impact you can have on another human being.



Which of the four steps involved in encouraging someone is easy for you?...or is hard for you?
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” - Leo Buscaglia, American author

“A helping word to one in trouble is often like a switch on a railroad track... an inch between wreck and smooth, rolling prosperity." - Henry Ward Beecher, American author
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - Aesop, Greek fabulist
“Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” - Benjamin Franklin, American scientist

12 comments:

  1. A great video clip on ENCOURAGEMENT, maybe the best video on this topic ever. Millions of people need to view this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Denny. Your comment is very encouraging to ME!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nicely done. An easy to adopt and remember, effective means of being there for another. The example fit well and underscored the steps - especially the result on the receiver.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for your positive feedback, Rick! I'm glad you found the steps easy to remember and use. We ALL need encouragement at different times, so it's valuable to know how to do it right.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for this great advice. I am a pastor's wife and have dealt with a depressive order for years. I have given the kind of support you suggest, but very few are ever there for me.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous, I can feel the pain in your comment and want to encourage you to reach out to someone who is willing to be there for you. When you're depressed AND when you're in the position you're in as a pastor's wife, it can be difficult to ask for help. But I promise you there is a person out there eager to give you the helping hand you need. Please make the effort to find that person now. I care about you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Excellent video clip on encouragement. Everyone needs some positive support like this. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks, Rick. I'm glad you found the info valuable!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great video! Listening without interrupting and offering a solution is the key. Too many of us are quick to want to help by giving a direction. Your video illustrates the need for support by recognizing the person's past accomplishments to empower them to look at it with renewed confidence.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dave, I appreciate your positive feedback and your excellent summary of the points I was trying to make. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I saw this video several times and it really encourage me to become a better listener. Although it's a hard process for me to master the people skills, I still believe that it will happen once. I won't give up and am always thinking about Einstein. If he had give up we probably wouldn't have the light. Your encouragement, quotes and inspiring words are a great help and gives a lot of light. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jan, thank you so much for your positive feedback. I'm very glad this video was helpful to you.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.