Can you remember the last time a kind word lifted you up? Perhaps it came from a trusted friend, or maybe your boss took a moment to recognize how skilled you are at what you do. Words of encouragement do more than just let us know we are appreciated or noticed—they have the power to supercharge our sense of well-being. They can even boost our productivity, as we know that the effort we are putting in does not go unnoticed.

Joining me for this conversation on the power of encouragement is my friend Jordan Montgomery. Jordan is a highly regarded performance coach and keynote speaker. He travels the country to give powerful speeches and coach professional athletes, salespeople, and even executives at Fortune 500 companies. Jordan lives in Iowa with his wife, Ashley, and their four children.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How brokenness is necessary to know encouragement
• Tips on how to encourage well
• Why anyone can offer encouragement
• And so much more!

I hope this conversation is helpful as we learn about the power encouragement can have in our lives!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• [BOOK] The Art of Encouragement: How to Lead Teams, Spread Love, and Serve from the Heart
• Connect with Jordan on his website, Facebook, or Instagram
• As a thank you for listening, get your 3 free eBooks.

My Key Takeaways:

1) Encouragement is a basic human need. Whether we admit it or not, we all could use some encouragement! Hearing a kind and encouraging word fulfills our basic need to be known and loved. It communicates to us that someone else sees our needs, understands the effort and skill we put into something, and knows us well enough to offer a kind word.

2) Encouragement is a skill. While everyone is capable of encouraging, developing your skill for delivering encouragement can help your words make a more meaningful impact. Consider how the thoughtful words of your spouse mean far more than the passing words of a stranger. In order to encourage well, we need to take the time to get to know a person on a deep level so we can accurately bring attention to what makes them special.

3) Focus on a person’s character rather than what they do. If we’re being honest, I think we’re all guilty of this one! Just think—we’ve probably all told our children how proud we are that their team won, thanked our spouse for cleaning the house, or shown appreciation at work when someone finishes a project early. We are quick to encourage and appreciate others for what they do rather than who they are. Let’s work on making this small shift this week. Here are those examples again, but this time, encouraging someone for who they are: “I can tell you enjoy playing and always do your best.” “Thank you for how much you love our family well!” “Thank you for finishing that project. You are so skilled at noticing the details!”

About Jordan:

Jordan Montgomery is an author, podcast host, renowned performance coach, and keynote speaker. He travels the country speaking and coaching executives at Fortune 500 companies, professional athletes, and salespeople. Jordan lives in Iowa with his wife, Ashley, and their four children. In his spare time, Jordan enjoys spending time with family and friends, cheering on the Hawkeyes, and immersing himself in the great outdoors.

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