How Full Is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D. is a wonderful book for both professional and personal development. The book was recommended by a colleague and I read it in two sittings (1.5 hours each). The book is filled with simple stories that create images that bring to life the main ideas.
Do you remember the concept of using "put ups" instead of "put downs"? Well, the concept of the filling or depleting one's personal bucket is similar in many ways. The author's theory behind the book is called, "The Dipper and the Bucket". Each of us have an invisible bucket. The contents in the bucket (water) is either being poured into this invisible bucket or it is being taken out. The water represents one's emotional well being and/or positive emotions. A dipper is used to dip into an others bucket and/or to fill an others bucket. Every time you encounter another person (i.e. in person, email, telephone, etc...) you will either fill their bucket or deplete their bucket. Every human interaction has the potential to fill or deplete.
The authors provide plenty of research that suggests the upside of being positive. Positive people or people who tend to live on the positive side of the fence tend to live longer, have more friends, stay healthier, and tend to be more productive (at work and at home).
Some interesting facts notated in this book:
Do you remember the concept of using "put ups" instead of "put downs"? Well, the concept of the filling or depleting one's personal bucket is similar in many ways. The author's theory behind the book is called, "The Dipper and the Bucket". Each of us have an invisible bucket. The contents in the bucket (water) is either being poured into this invisible bucket or it is being taken out. The water represents one's emotional well being and/or positive emotions. A dipper is used to dip into an others bucket and/or to fill an others bucket. Every time you encounter another person (i.e. in person, email, telephone, etc...) you will either fill their bucket or deplete their bucket. Every human interaction has the potential to fill or deplete.
The authors provide plenty of research that suggests the upside of being positive. Positive people or people who tend to live on the positive side of the fence tend to live longer, have more friends, stay healthier, and tend to be more productive (at work and at home).
Some interesting facts notated in this book:
- The #1 reason people leave their jobs: the don't feel appreciated.
- Bad bosses could increase the risk of a stroke by 33%.
- A study found that negative employees can scare off every customer they speak with - for good.
- 65% of Americans receive no recognition in the workplace last year.
- 9 out of 10 people say they are more productive when they're around positive people.
- The magic ratio: 5 positive interactions for 1 negative interaction.
- More than 13 positive interactions for every 1 negative interaction could decrease productivity.
This concept of filling or emptying an invisible bucket is so simple, so visual, and easy to implement. Daily interactions with my family and my staff have me instantly reflecting on what I did. Did I just fill their bucket? Did I just use my dipper to pull out of their bucket to fill my bucket?
I have and will continue to recommend this book to my friends and colleagues. It is a quick read, a light read, and has the potential of creating a positive and better life for all those you encounter....especially for you.
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