Encouragement offers more potential than cash. The amount of cash is limited, but you have an unlimited supply of encouragement ... encouragement feeds people's souls."

Everyone needs encouragement at one time or another, from the CEO, mother, father, child, or employee, to the professional athlete or performer.

Encouragement means to inspire, incite, foster, or stimulate courage with hope.

As many of us can recall, as children, we sometimes needed encouragement to complete a task. What we can not give to ourselves, we borrow from those around us.

For us as adults, our early situations may have changed but the human condition of needing support has not. At some level, we all need to be encouraged.

Whatever your life purpose and whether your work is in healthcare, education, business, criminal justice, ministry, families, or myriad thousands of other responsibilities, your overall activity should leave others feeling encouraged.

If your life or actions do not include the foundation of encouragement toward others, you need to evaluate how encouragement can become part of your purpose.

Start by giving it away. Encouragement is not something to be saved, collected, or withheld; that approach has little redeeming value. Encouragement is a perishable item best enjoyed in the moment. Once the aircraft has left the ground, an empty seat is a lost opportunity. When you hesitate in offering your encouragement, the opportunity is gone.

A funny thing happens when you encourage others-you feel encouraged and better about yourself.

Before I encourage each of you reading this article, I want to acknowledge the many encouragements that you as readers have given me.

Recently, I found myself in an interesting discussion with my good friend and walking buddy. We first met years ago when both of us were starting our careers at IBM. As we reminisced about the "good old days", we remembered some of our early mentors who showed us the ropes, provided us with knowledge and insights.

Perhaps one of their greatest gifts to us was the Art of Encouragement. As we reflected on "then" and "now" what hit us between the eyes is how seldom people take time to encourage others today. It seems communication <http://www.articlesbase.com/coaching-articles/the-art-of-encouragement-88426.html> has become more efficient, but is it really effective?

In our virtual world of email, conference calls, blackberries and the plethora of other high tech tools, we have had to learn to juggle so many priorities at once. Who has time to spend encouraging a co-worker? And yet, how many of us are where we are today because of those who made the time to encourage us and mentor us along the way.

So, why does encouragement matter? What are the benefits of encouragement? I gave it some thought, and have listed here some of the key benefits for everyone involved.

BENEFITS TO THE "ENCOURAGEE"

* Builds self-confidence

* Creates an ally

* Provides feedback on what they are doing well

* Circumvents mistakes, wasted time

BENEFITS TO THE ENCOURAGER

* Strengthens the relationship

* Provides opportunity to "teach" others

* Creates an ally

* Expands one's expertise by teaching/modeling for someone else

BENEFITS TO THE ORGANIZATION

* Strengthens succession planning

* Creates bench strength in emerging leaders

* Passes on "tribal knowledge" within organization

* Solidifies/deepens corporate culture

What benefits would you add to this list? Think of a person in your life who has encouraged you along the way. What kind of a difference have they made in your life? Have you taken the time to thank them? If not now, when? Send them a card, give them a call, or offer to take them to lunch. Let them know how much their encouragement has meant to you. I can guarantee it will make their day.

So, how do you go about encouraging someone else? Here are some keys to encouragement.

KEYS TO ENCOURAGEMENT

* Look for opportunities to encourage

* Give encouragement freely

* Be sincere and specific

* Find ways to make it easy

* Make it a habit

* Take the time

* Watch what happens!

Remember that you had many encouragers along your journey. Take time to do the same for others. Practice the Art of Encouragement.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER underestimate the power of your encouraging words toward any other person! For example, many people seem to think that successful individuals need less encouragement. Don't discount the impact you have or can have with everyone you meet. At any given moment, you can make a difference in someone else's life by encouraging him or her. We need to remind ourselves that while this creates invaluable results, it costs us nothing.

It is important to graciously and thankfully accept encouragement from others. In other words, don't discount your value or their confidence in you.

Finally, be authentic and intentional in your encouragement. Be real but look for opportunities to encourage others. Make it part of your mindset to encourage someone every single day. Give it away-your act of encouragement can and will affect millions.

The movie Pay It Forward calculated that three acts of kindness given away by one individual, then repeated by each person down the line daily, would, within two weeks, impact 4,787,969 lives.

Here is my challenge to you: before the end of today, encourage at least three individuals and ask them to do the same for three people each. I guarantee you will feel more confident and better about yourself as you do so.

The Encouragement Challenge

1. Encouragement inspires courage and hope into others.

2. No matter who we are, we all need some level of encouragement.

3. Encouragement is perishable' at every opportunity give it away-saving it up has no redeeming value.

4. If you are fulfilling and living your purpose. Others should feel encouraged by you and your actions.

5. Be authentic and be real in your encouragement. If you can't authentically encourage others, then don't.

6. Be intentional. Nothing happens by accident. Make encouraging others a part of your mindset; do it every day.

7. Never discount the value your encouragement has to others. No matter who we are or what we do, we all need and appreciate it.

8. Never discount encouragement that is directed toward you from others. Gracefully and thankfully accept it.

9. Take the encouragement challenge. Encourage three individuals every day and ask each of them to do the same to three others.

10. Forward this article to at least three people you care about or who could benefit from reading it.

11. Pay attention to how giving encouragement makes others feel and how it makes you feel. Notice how your feelings of confidence improve because you encouraged others.

12. Remember, it costs nothing and it produces invaluable results.

Take the time to make up a list of some of the most wonderful things that have happened in your life. They will be moments of fireworks over the years, when you experienced tears of Joy Joy Joy. Once you begin to think about those things and make up a list, I am sure you will be overwhelmed by the length of the list.

Then when you need encouragement, Just think about the many times the Lord has blessed you unexpectedly. When you look over that list, you will be reminded and be encouraged. Remember right now in the moment of your need you need to remember he is right there with you and will never let go of your hand. He has been there before and he will be there for you again. Just look up Romans 8:28 and know that he allows all things for good for those that love him and are called according to his plan.

Until next time, keep "Living on Purpose."