Coming into work this morning I heard an interview with Tom Bloch, former CEO of HR Block, who had stepped out of the corporate environment and become a teacher. He then opened a school that has a much higher success rate among students than most schools.

During the radio interview they asked him why there is so much success with his school.
The following quote was something that really stamped into my mind.

“People do not rise to low expectations.”

It is a simple quote and it is something we all already know, but like a picture on the wall eventually just blends in with everything else and gathers no attention, this is something each of us can be reminded occasionally as individuals and as a team. Much like the weekly “Aquaterrian” does.

He went on to say what we have heard so many times in the past about setting the bar low ends up with just enough effort to clear the bar, but to set the bar higher there is just that much more effort applied in order to clear the bar. I find this true as I used to consult competitive athletes in training and in my own training.  I find it true in the work environment. What I like about Aquaterra is I look around me and see not only a management that is trying to motivate folk to raise the bar, but I see individuals trying to raise the bar for themselves and what they do on a daily basis. I see it in the Atlanta office where Chanc is constantly raising the bar or the expectation to improve what we deliver to our client.

The manner in which the expectations have been inspired by the management is a pleasant method by planting seeds of thoughts in individuals to rise to the top rather than a harsh method I have seen in past work environments. In the Atlanta office, I see a team that seems to be inspired to work toward the raised bar. The suffering economy changes the aspect of supply and demand from what we have known for many years. Demand is low and expectations will be higher from those few that have something to offer to the many that want to supply.

“People do not rise to low expectations.”

…..anyway that is the quote of my week with some expanded thoughts that I thought I would share.

- Jesse Aldridge
Senior Designer, Woodstock, GA Office

The expression “to pay someone a compliment” is an interesting choice of words when you think about it.  If I pay someone, I normally think about tendering money (or something of value) for a product or service rendered.  I paid my barber $10.00 for my haircut.  I paid $25.00 for a new hammer, and so on.  If we provide advice to someone, we don’t say that we paid them advice.  When we have a question for someone, we “ask” it, we don’t “pay” it.  OK, you get my point.

So, that would mean that the act of paying a compliment is like providing something of value to someone for their actions.   Yet, when we finish “paying” the complement, our checkbook balance is no lower, we still have the same amount of cash in our wallet, and our credit card balance did not go up.  Wow, what a deal; we give something of value to someone else, and it costs us nothing!  Then compliments should be paid without fail for all good actions, right?  Well, yes, they should, but they aren’t always paid.  What a shame.

This past week, Steve Greaber (Baton Rouge office manager) had a meeting with an architectural client, and he mentioned to Steve that our construction monitoring services were the best that he had seen.  That made Steve feel great, and he passed it on to others, including me, and it made us all feel great.  It encouraged us; increased our resolve to show our clients that we really are the best.  A simple statement, that took about 10 seconds to communicate, did all that.  It really did.

The concept of paying a compliment is nothing new, but I think that the need for compliments has increased a great deal in the last few months.  Why?  The recession.  Money is tight everywhere, people are being laid off, businesses are failing.  Bad news is everywhere.  We should look for opportunities to send positive messages, and what can be more positive than a sincere compliment?  I have found myself on numerous occasions looking at how businesses are doing.  Maybe I’m in a restaurant, or a hardware store.  Diana (my wife) may have dragged me into a gift shop.  Whatever the place may be, I am very aware of the amount of business.  When the business seems to be good, if I am communicating with an owner or a manager, I make mention of this observation.  When a particular service or product is satisfying, I try and compliment the provider.  It is really amazing how this little, simple gesture evokes such satisfaction from the person who receives the compliment.  A compliment is a bit of good news when so much bad news abounds.

I expect that bad economic times like our country (world) is experiencing are a part of cyclical nature of business.  However, the effect of poor economic times can be influenced by our reaction to the conditions that prevail.  We should not be spendthrifts, but, on the other hand, if we hold back too much on our basic expenditures, it impacts someone down the line, and that will come back to negatively impact us.  So, when I hear the media telling me that 2009 is going to be dismal, I am negatively influenced, perhaps holding back on spending or hiring.  However, If the media begin to amplify some of the positive aspects of the economic picture, I am more inclined to take a risk of a new asset, a new employee, or enjoy a restaurant meal more often.  The media should be complimenting our economy, not insulting it.  Maybe it would make a difference.  But I read what they write; not vice-versa.

But you read what I write.  Perhaps these words can be put to good use with our actions.  Let’s try an experiment within Aquaterra.  Let’s find reasons to compliment.  Whether you have a co-worker who is doing their job exceptionally well, a vendor has gotten you just what you need on time, or perhaps a client has assisted in a manner that made your task easier; stop and acknowledge the action with a well-deserved compliment.  I am one who is quick to find fault, and I am prone to let good actions go unnoticed.  I will take the lead in doing my best to compliment those of you that I see doing the right thing.

So, these days when cash is tight, unemployment is high, and paying the rent or mortgage is difficult, go out of your way to pay that one thing that just may be at an all-time high in value, pay a compliment.  It won’t cost you a dime.