"That's really nice to hear" - The power of a morning word

The CEO from the 2nd floor of our office brews coffee every morning.

I'm always grateful that he makes a different flavor every day with expert-level skill.

Today, while drinking the coffee, I noticed the acidity, flavor, and aftertaste lingered longer than usual.

I told him exactly how I felt.

The CEO broke into a big smile and said, "That's exactly what I wanted to hear."

Until now, I had just drunk the coffee as "coffee."

I think I had taken it for granted, since I got it every day.

Today, for the first time, I saw firsthand how a single word could make someone smile.

Seeing how pleased the CEO looked, my morning brightened up too.

The power of a single word — here's what the experts say

Psychologist John Gottman has studied married couples for over 30 years.

He says that for a relationship to last, the ratio of positive to negative words needs to be at least 5:1.

In other words, it's not the 'amount' of words but their 'direction' that determines a relationship.

In his book The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman lists 'words of affirmation' as one of the love languages.

For some people, a single word can mean more than a gift or time spent together.

Management scholar Ken Blanchard's book Whale Done! makes the same point.

It's about how a small word of recognition can change a person's behavior and relationships.

I learned that a single word can make someone feel good.

But that also means a single word can hurt someone, too.

So what kind of words have I been saying to my closest family members all this time?

I think there were more words I brushed past carelessly, just because I took them for granted.

Today, I want to think first about what my family would like to hear.

I want to become someone who can brighten someone's whole day with just one word.

Written by codinglee