Today I’m sharing something guaranteed to help in your business, your career, your family… in every area of your life. It will make you more likable, and impact your life in more ways than you ever thought possible.

Ready for this? Everyone likes to be encouraged and edified. I know it doesn’t sound groundbreaking, but it is so important to really grasp this. Everyone likes to feel special and important. And when you bring this principle into your company or home, you won’t believe the difference it can make!

Edify? What exactly does that mean? Simple… it means to build someone up, to uplift and encourage them.

But it’s so much more than just “saying nice things.” It carries huge benefits – both for them and you. And it takes a certain level of leadership and maturity to recognize those benefits and actually use this strategy within your circle of influence.

First, when you edify someone in your company, your family or your community, you build that person’s reputation. When you edify that person publicly, you position them as a leader, as someone others will follow. You actually shape other people’s perception of the person you edify!

Think about that for a minute. Imagine you are a CEO, and you see Sue, the receptionist in your office, doing a really terrific job. She holds the front line – as the first person your clients come into contact with, she is quick and efficient, and she always honors your clients and does her best to fill their needs.

So you decide to recognize Sue and edify her in front of the other staff members in your office. You tell her what a great job she’s doing (using specifics) and how much you appreciate her dedication to helping the team. You tell your staff Sue is the perfect example of the leaders you want in this company.

Now, how does this affect your team? It causes them to see Sue as a leader in the company and totally changes their perception of her. And, why is she so important? She’s the receptionist… the voice of your company! By edifying her, it causes the rest of the employees to want the same thing and work toward a common goal.

What does it do for Sue, the receptionist? It gives her a reputation she wants to live up to! You just set her up as a leader in the company by encouraging the things you want to see more of. And guess what? She will continue to step into that role.

Finally, what does it do for you? It positions you as a leader. It shows you as someone who encourages and speaks highly of others. It creates a mutually-beneficial relationship between you and the person you edify.

When you cultivate an environment of encouragement and edification, people want to be there. When people work in a positive environment, they want to come to work, and will work better and produce more results.

Have you ever seen a company with a lot of negativity, belittling and gossip? It’s because the environment allows and cultivates it. Edification changes the environment into a place where people enjoy being. It creates a standard for your environment and gives people the proper frame of mind.

There’s no down side to edification. Seriously, who doesn’t want to create more harmony, more productivity and more effective teamwork inside your company or family?

A lot of people won’t edify others. simply because they are so full of pride. But edification is not about building the other person’s ego; it’s about positioning. Even if you can’t stand the person… even if they can drive you crazy… even if you could do a better job of it… EDIFY THEM! It’s not about you; it’s about positioning them, to pull out their best.

Whether you’re the CEO or just hired yesterday, whether you own the company or work in the mailroom, this is something you can start practicing today. Edify your boss, your coworkers, your clients and your prospects.

And this is not limited to work. Edify your family! Edify your spouse in front of your children. Edify your children in front of their siblings. Edify your kids’ teachers in front of your kids.

The changes you’ll see in the people around you, will amaze you. You will not recognize your work environment when you create this kind of culture. I’m telling you, by creating an atmosphere of edification, you set up yourself – and your company or family – for outrageous success.

It’s no secret our world is full of negativity. You just have to look around. But we can do something to change that! Imagine if you lived in a culture of honor, encouragement and edification. Imagine how great it would be, if everyone used this super-simple strategy to create better relationships, build bigger profits and expand their influence. How awesome would that be?!

Spreading this message is the first step you can take to make that happen! Go ahead and send this to everyone you know, and share on Facebook and Twitter. Pass it around work today and even hand it out to your employees or coworkers.

And then, let me know your thoughts about today’s message. I really love reading your comments every day. I love to hear how you’re using the information I share, and it helps me to know what else I can do to help you succeed in your work, finances, family and life. So please, leave me your comments below!

And don’t forget to join me today for The Dani Johnson Show for more valuable insights and inspiration. You can find the show on your TV and radio and please remember you can always stream today’s show right here on our website.

In great faith,

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