When I first started in leadership, I focused more on results than relationships. I believed that if the job got done, everything else would fall into place. But one day, a mentor challenged me: “How do you make people feel?” That question hit me hard. I had no idea.
Then, I came across John Maxwell’s Book on principle of the Triple A-Treatment: Attention, Affirmation, and Appreciation. I decided to test it with my team.
First, I gave them my Attention, real attention. No distractions, no rushed conversations. I made eye contact, listened without interrupting, and made sure they knew their words mattered. I saw an immediate change. With that I realized that people lit up when they spoke, knowing I actually valued their input.
Next, I practiced Affirmation. Instead of only pointing out mistakes, I highlighted their strengths. I told Priscy, our quiet but brilliant strategist, how much I admired her ability to see solutions no one else could. I reminded Ron, our enthusiastic sales lead, how his energy lifted the team. Their confidence grew.
Finally, I made Appreciation a habit. Not just during performance reviews but in everyday moments. A simple “Thank you for handling that so well” or “I really appreciate your hard work” made a world of difference.
The result? My team became more engaged, more productive, and most importantly more connected.
The lesson here is as clear as it gets: When you give people the Triple A-Treatment, they don’t just perform better they feel better, and that changes everything.
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