I've just come back from a great day of work at Benmore Outdoor Centre, with a group from an American 'Study Abroad' programme. Partly it was having a great colleague to work alongside who provided the bounce and fun (and sausages) that we needed in the morning (big thanks to Angela Kerr) but it was also the group themselves. Not only were they great fun and easy to work with but they were exquisitely polite and thanked me at every turn. Its such a good feeling when people genuinely seem grateful when you were just doing your job. I had also experienced it with a different group earlier in the week but since they were only 12 years old I can ignore it a little bit - 'they're just being polite like they were taught' - whereas adults tend to just not say anything if they don't mean it.
It made me wonder how often do I say 'thank you' and how much difference might it make to someone's day if I did. Do I simply expect people to do their job well and accept it when they do and complain when they don't? I want to have high expectations of people but that shouldn't mean that I neglect to appreciate them when they perform well, even though I am not surprised. If I appreciate a little appreciation, maybe other people would and so I should tell them.
The question for you then is, is this something that you are good at already? Whether it is or isn't, look out for the next person who performs a service on your behalf and make sure to show your appreciation.

Another video format blog - watch and think; if you agree  strongly or disagree then feel free to leave a comment.