A Time for Giving Thanks

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It is that time of year for the Thanksgiving assignment.  In my leadership and organizational behavior courses, I give students special postcards and give them "the assignment."  They are to handwrite a card and send it or deliver it to someone they want to thank at Thanksgiving time.  Since they also keep gratitude journals in one course and they write journals in the other, they are to tell me who they gave or sent the card to and what the reaction was upon receiving it.  This part of the assignment is due before the holiday break. 

The hope is that in the three weeks between sending the card that they would have a response from the recipient.  Then they can write about how they felt completing this assignment and the response it generated.  While there are many things I am trying to accomplish with this exercise, the main idea is to develop an attitude of gratitude.  This attitude makes us better people, better leaders.

I am old fashioned in this way, but I like the written word in someone's handwriting and I like "snail mail."  A personalized note makes me feel like putting it in a drawer whereas a nice email I might even forget to print off so that it eventually gets lost. 

While we don't have to wait until Thanksgiving to have an assignment such as this, Thanksgiving is a nice time to remember to give thanks to the people who have helped us on our life journey. 

P.S.  I complete the assignment too and then I share my response with the students.

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Comments

[Corben Schueler]

It's funny that I came across this as the first blog that you've made recently. As you know I'm in your leadership class and I've also taken Organizational Behavior with you. I remember the first time you gave the assignment when I was in Org. Behavior and thought well this is kind of a joke. But I followed through and delivered the card to my grandparents. I won't get to deap into what I wrote, but I will say that while I was writing it many emotions came up. I felt the emotions of what my grandparents have done for me and why I was writing to them. I delivered it to them personally, since they live in pella, the reaction was what made it perfect. They were so grateful that I had chose them to give it to, but really I was the more grateful one. Now, that I had the chance to do it again, my mind set was more about how excited I was to do it again.

[Lee Weers]

Hi Jann,

I was originally here to pass on a tip article for improving your effectiveness as a leader. I'd also like to say thank you for all of the support you have shown me.

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/tech-manager/?p=2151&tag=leftCol;post-3375

[Jann Freed]

Thanks Lee for the nice message. But I want to thank you. Having you in several classes helped me to grow and keep me on top of things. I will look at the link you sent and report back. Thanks again. Jann

[Jann Freed]

THanks for the nice message Corbin. I will be eager to hear to whom you sent the card this year and to learn the response. I know your grandparents in Pella, particularly your grandma, and they are special people.