by Dr. Steve Rumery (aka “Rum”)

I think we are all ready for a little break over the next couple of days to rest up and recharge, though I know for many of us this idea is aspirational, at best. For those of us who do have a little bit of open time over Thanksgiving, it is a GREAT time to reflect on the year we’ve had so far, including the good, the bad and the ugly. Each of us has been through so much to get to where we are today, and there have been a number of people who have played critical roles along the way to help us make it happen.

So I have an assignment for you for Thanksgiving. It’s nothing too crazy. Just a trip down memory lane, and maybe some thinking about where you’re headed next.

I want you to come up with two names.

Not any two names, mind you, but two names that are somehow connected with your journey this year, and your journey in the near future.

The first name to come up with should be someone that played a small, but critical role in some aspect of your life in the last year. Take a moment to go through the year’s worth of events and experiences that unfolded in your life, and all of the difficulties (and opportunities) you were presented. As you make your way down memory lane, you will see a number of people who were there with you, presenting themselves at the right time and place to lend a hand and give you the little extra support you needed.

Of that list of people, I want you to pick one and say out loud their name and what they did for you. And then I want you to write a little note (or email), jotting down these details, and send it to thank them for being there.

The second name should be someone that you know at work that you anticipate will need your help right soon. Think about all of the people you interact with, virtually or otherwise, and think about what they are working on and what is going on in their lives. Now go through this list of people and pick one that would benefit from your experience, or your problem-solving skills, or your optimism.

If you have a hard time with coming up with names, then that’s good feedback for you as those people are out there but you are not aware of them. When you do have a name, the next step is to reach out to them to say hi, strike up a conversation, build a little relationship, and when the time is right, step in and lend a hand.

The truth is that when we take the time to recognize the people who have helped us along the way, it fills ourselves with a sense of gratitude, and fills others with a sense of meaning and purpose. And when we take the time to search out others who could use our help, even in small ways, it fills others with a sense of gratitude, and fills ourselves with a sense of meaning and purpose.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! You are all in my thoughts as we work together to make a brighter future.

If you happen to be looking for a way to recharge your team and build your restorative leadership leadership style, consider taking the Restore 360 assessment or watching an on-line video.