Help! I'm not a natural encourager!

Encouragement in a work/ministry setting is so important. It may not come naturally to you, but that's ok. It's something that can definitely be learned. During this post, I hope to provide you with some practical tips to make you an encouragement champ! picture from: www.poetry4kids.com

• Have your staff or any other people you want to encourage fill out a survey listing ways they like to be encouraged. Finding out how someone is best encouraged can help you to be mindful of what you do to encourage that person and can also save you some time. If I give you a handwritten note, it may have encouraged you, but you may just want me to spend some quality time with you instead. You can make up your own quiz, or you can have them take a quiz like this one.
• Make an encouragement schedule. This sounds like you are just encouraging each person because you HAVE to, but really, it just holds you accountable and makes you work hard at encouraging people who aren’t always easy for you to encourage or who may fly under the radar. They need encouragement too.

Practical ways to encourage:
(These categories were taken from Gary Chapman's book "The 5 Love Languages")
Words of Affirmation: Unsolicited kind words mean the world to this type of person. They are also torn down the easiest by negative words. Spend time writing them a note or coming up to them after you have seen them do something well and affirming them.
Quality Time: Being there for this type of person is critical. When you take the time to really invest time into your relationship with them, it makes them feel really special. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful. Take this person out to coffee or a meal. They will love that you set aside time just for them.
Receiving Gifts: This one is self explanatory, but don’t take it as materialistic. These people love the thoughtfulness , love, and effort behind the gift. For them, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and valued enough that someone sacrificed something in order to bring you this gift. Make sure you know what all of their favorite things are. A simple pack of their favorite candy may mean the world to them!
Acts of Service: Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. If this person is a volunteer in your ministry, you can encourage them by secretly setting up their class, taking their place on a specific committee, or even just asking if you can help with whatever they are doing.
Physical Touch: If you aren’t a hugger, don’t let this one scare you. Most people who are physical touch are encouraged by just a pat on the back. In your volunteer meetings, you can have a time of “8-10 meaningful touches” or just make a note to give your physical touch people hugs or pats on the back frequently.
Being in tune with how your volunteers, coworkers, and friends like to be encouraged will make a huge difference. Now, go out there and encourage!