✏️ For teacher appreciation week, comment below with a story of an educator who changed your life. We'll be choosing 10 responses to ship a free deck of We! Engage Cards to as well!
I have found your insights on fostering virtual engagement really interesting, and have considered buying cards for a non-profit I work with. Thanks for your insights and offering this opportunity!
In my work as a 4-H extension agent, I have witnessed so many fellow youth educators making a difference every day. It is an accumulation of all the little things--- truly getting to know the youth they work with, taking the time to help that one child who is having more difficulty, working nights and weekends to ensure youth have a positive experience.
Mrs. B had compassion. She cried with us when one of our classmates lost his father unexpectedly. She challenged us to be our very best in learning and in life.
No longer a teacher myself but during my years I had two male colleagues, both math teachers who were absolutely brilliant especially with the teens who had a hard time understanding the rules and principles in math. With such enthusiasm, with patience and an attitude that they all were going to pass their exams. It takes someone special to teach someone who has a bit of a harder time learning. Comes to think about it - both of them were named Mats. Maybe takes that name too:)
There are so many, but one who leaps out to me is my computer science teacher in high school....she taught computer science before it was common in schools (early 1990s). But it wasn't the subject she taught, it was how much she cared about her students and their success. I've been out of high school for nearly 30 years and she still keeps in touch and asks how things are! Here's to you, Mrs. Fisher!
I appreciate the way you told me "what to say" - don't tell them what they, affirm how what they did represents who they are. I am working on student quarterly reviews and will ask myself that questions as I prepare my feedback for each student. I really want them to "feel" something.
Chad, you bring a lot of energy to the screen, your smile keeps the content interesting, and I agree with Maria you do bring in a personal feeling. You come off as approachable, relatable and I enjoy your conversation.
Chad thank you so much for all the videos you´ve made, they have literally changed my life, help me get direction and recognize this is the calling of my life, I apreaciate your knogledge and your tips, they are always super practical and handy, and your enthusiasm is so abundant and genuine it really inspires me. Chad, it is increible how you kindness can trascend every message you give through the honesty of your intention to guide us. The impact of your inspiration has reshapped my whole life. I see how you always manage to remind me of the reason I´m doing this and put some new logs into the fire of my passion for connection in the most fun way, I dont even notice this good vibes until I realize hours have gone by, I´ve seen so many videos, took notes, shaped your tips and even when I finish I feel energized, ready, happy, in teh rigth tack, eager and joyful, and if it was not enough I countinue to realize how this resonance just spreads through out the people I love and how I approach life in general, Your input in this world is significant and needed, so thank you kindly,
PHEWF! Thank you kindly for taking such a deliberate moment to write this out. Read your comment right after an internet trolls comment haha. Lovely balance!
Chad Littlefield - I am a follower and fan of yours and am grateful for your creative take on connection. You deliver the perfect amount of info to prompt us into going deeper with every video. I admire your commitment to the work it takes to do these snippets of greatness- Thank You!
🙏thank you deeply! In a moment when my motivation/commitment is a 6 out of 10, haha, your comment is a beautiful reminder of the impact to effort ratio that exists for all leaders and educators.
Hi Chad, Have had feedback sessions with colleagues in the past week and like everyone else, would have loved to listen to this video much sooner. Your nerdy but deep communication emanates positivity. You embody the emotionally intelligent "leader and educator". Your authentic content has a lasting impact on all I meet. Cheers to the next 400 videos ⭐
Chad, it’s clear you love what you do, because your enthusiasm and the way you convey your knowledge to the world is making a huge difference. You have literally changed my life, and I try every day to share with others what I learn from you. Thank you. You Rock.
Chad, as I watch your videos, I truly APPRECIATE the way you help leaders and educators refine our styles, to become even better at positively connecting with our teams. That said, the amount of energy and enthusiasm you give from such a real place, makes me WANT to be an even better leader, coach, and mentor. (I hope you feel AFFIRMED)
Chad, I’m a continuous improvement facilitator/business analyst and am a rabid consumer of your books, videos and resources. What I love about all of them is the energy and passion you exude about your love for helping people grow. I share that too and it resonates and inspires me. Thank you for the positive impact you’ve made on me and and all those I’m fortunate enough to influence! ♥️
Chad, I was in a meeting earlier today about creating team culture, and the question that I walked away with was "how do I give good, creative, and meaningful positive feedback to my collegues?" And then literally opened my email and the notification about this video was at the top of my inbox. Thank you for creating such positive, inspiring videos that answer real questions people have. I so appreciate your obvious care and compassion for people and your desire to see them equipped to make the world a better place through engaging leadership and flourishing team culture!
Hallie! That is actually the universe conspiring to say "you're awesome." That seriously is the best serendipity on the planet. Thanks for taking the time to share!
Great video which summed up a new way my organization thanked volunteers in November. Instead of my appreciating them (I am a Volunteer Coordinator) in generalities, I assigned one staffer to each of the 11 volunteers we as a group selected for awards. The staffer spoke in specifics - and unscripted! - about their qualities of what they bring to our programs. Each one was more heartfelt than I could have ever done. They were doing affirmations, as you describe in this video. The result? Each volunteer gave a spur of the moment acceptance speech of sorts, and I realized that we had a mutual admiration society going on between the staff and volunteers! My smile on my face lasted for over 30 minutes and my cheeks began to ache! LOL But seriously, I will never go back to presenting the awards "on behalf of the staff" - no way! This affirmation practice, by people who are truly in the know and who work side by side with them is far superior. SOOO... all this to say, you are really onto something here. SPOT ON! Keep up the great work in inspiring us to step up our game. You have an excellent way of breaking down concepts and theories and making the learning so accessible. Were you born a great communicator, or is it something you cultivated? Or both? Hmmmm....
Fun to hear this unpacked! Thanks for sharing. Not sure that I was born a great communicator, but when you focus nearly all time and energy into it for a long time, nature combines with nurture I suppose :-) Still PLENTY of foibles and fumbles off camera though too hah.
I had an English teacher in high school who encouraged me to be different, to stand out and be recognized snd set the bar high for me as well as those around me. He pushed me to be a better writer and prepared me for college. He was not a student favorite because he wasn’t easy. I think that’s precisely why I adored him.
Chad, you show up ready to make a difference in people's lives. You continually find ways to connect with leaders via video and set an example for all of us who've been required to pivot over the last year.
Chad, first off, thank you for always sharing your time and passion for leading well. Your videos are always meaningful and transferable to any line of work. Your "people first" mindset is very clear, as you lead with love, energy, experience, and encouragement. You truly are an inspiration.
Darcy, believe it or not, today was filled with annoyingly constructive feedback in my world haha, so your worlds were a welcome offset 😊 Thanks for connecting with me on here.
I once had a supervisor/educator who believed in me, who had my back, challenged, inspired, and encouraged me in all that he did. It was a joy to serve with him.
I love the simple distinguishing definition. I feel I have learned that affirmations unleash passion, effort, and intention which warrants more and more appreciation! My 9th grade English teacher told me that I was a very perceptive person and encouraged me to use that quality in my story writing assignments. I thought I was a good writer (Mrs. B gave me a C+ on an assignment I thought was A+ work) but I was affirmed as a person to strive to be a better English student. Chad, thank you for your practicality once again. 👍🏻
Chad, This is like the 40 something video I’ve seen of your content, and I’m so appreciative of your enthusiasm, energy and knowledge you share with us leaders and educators. Your liveliness and drive in the way you talk and body language when you present techniques, really sends me lots of positive energy and motivates me to be able to implement all the techniques you teach us! When I’m watching your video, I’m paying more attention than when I’m in class (don’t tell my professor). Keep the videos coming please. Also, thank you Steven for helping design the videos! The content in your videos are so rich, I feel like I’ve improved my ability to connect and develop meaningful connections with others right away. Robinson Cajamarca
This is amazing, Robinson. Thank you so, so, so much my friend. I feel like we've exchanged about 40 comments too which is probably more interactions than I've had with some of my neighbors. So...it's official, I consider you a neighbor now :-)
Chad, absolutely agree with all the affirmative comments! Your helpful distinction between appreciation and affirmation aligns nicely with some of the tools of Motivational Interviewing, which I suspect you know well. In MI, an affirmation generally begins with "You" rather than "I", and acknowledges some ability, effort, strength, action. Beginning with "you", whether an appreciation or affirmation, helps us focus on the other, which you do with such a spirit of authenticity. Thank you!
Lee, this is a brilliant nuance and add in. I wish I could go back to recording day to weave this in. Next time! Your comment now has me thinking about what TEAM affirmation looks like. Perhaps the pronouns shift from ME to WE. Or perhaps I'm a bit biased toward those pronouns...
Chad, you always come across with a genuine enthusiasm for what you do and an interest in helping to share your knowledge in a way that will connect. While many others create videos to promote themselves, you care about putting things out there that will make all leaders and educators look good because they are doing so in an authentic way.
Thank you! Teaching is so much more fun, fulfilling and impactful than self-promotion or marketing. Glad this shows up as it is certainly my intention. And of course every once in a while, I've gotta drop a line to sign up for the list or pick up a book, haha. But I aim for a 98% ratio of teaching/tools/value and 2% "maybe you'd like this resource."
I appreciate how you help people communicate beyond the surface level. Telling colleagues you appreciate who they are rather than just for things they do helps them feel noticed and appreciated. Thank you for recognizing teachers/educators. My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Dixon, changed my life by being compassionate to all students in her classroom. I had never had a sense of belonging or validation before that. Her genuine sense of caring made me want to become an educator.
Chad, I appreciate your use of props, stories and live demos in your short videos. It really helps me absorb what's in your brain. I look forward to your videos each week! Thank you.
Kim, thank you so much for sharing! I always welcome questions for new topics too if you've got something that is top of mind for you. Feel free to reply and let me know. 90% of my video titles are actual questions that real people have asked 👍👍
Appreciation - Thank you for sharing your constant wisdom and helpful tips on these RUclips videos so I can capture and cultivate growth from what you pour out. Affirmation - Your energy, facial expressions, voice fluctuations, and body movement bring energy and a captivating experience to each of your RUclips videos. This energy and entertaining messages you create bring an exciting eagerness when I see a new video of yours pop up. You build great messages and execute them in a bright and creative way. Keep shining your greatness so I can continue to learn from your wisdom you pour out.
Thanks so much for taking the thought and time to share this. I've got a big filming day coming up for a new series of videos and your kind note was fuel for the fire :-)
An additional thought on affirmation vs appreciation. Appreciation is more 'I' focused in the subject - I like that you do this, I appreciate that you make that happen; whereas, affirmation is more 'you' focused - You are really good at ..., your support for the team shows by how you... . Affirmation feels better to receive because of the difference in focus.
Affirmation: Chad all your videos depict that you are very passionate about making a difference in the filed of leaders and educators. You speak from experience and have a clarity on what you want to deliver in each of your videos. You are lively and use relatable examples to connect with your audience. Appreciation: You are doing a great job with the videos. You are focused and your videos are nice and short.
My 5th grade teacher Ms Susan Wheeler was so encouraging and saw the potential in her students. She looked for the giftedness in all her students and then gave them opportunity to practice that gift. Meant so much to me that years later she was invited to my wedding and 41 years later I am still teaching school and looking for the gifts in my students.
You are a person who sees a cameraman as a real person and helps him see himself in a positive light, rather than someone who sees a cameraman merely as a means to an end in getting others to see you yourself in a positive light. And that is rare (even among generally nice people).
Thank you, Erik! I'm also an ACCELERATOR and sometimes that conflicts with the sentiment of really seeing people as people. It's nice to have this reflected back to me as a reminder to also use the BRAKE (or break...) in combination with the accelerator. Thanks.
Hey Chad I have been watching your videos for some time now on and off and what keeps me coming back is your sincerity and your ability to make topics practical. You always manage to answer the " why" question and have it make sense for everyday application. Your infectious enthusiasm shows through each time and helps to connect me to the bigger picture thank you
i loved the examples that you gave and how you have a passion to help people connect in better ways! thanks (i think that is one of each type from the video, still learning)
Thanks Chad! I appreciate all the effort and content you've created for leaders and educators in bite-sized videos that are easy and enjoyable to digest. I affirm your passion for making learning fun again - for all ages. Your care for learning is inspiring to me. Keep on keeping on!
Thanks so much! Love the name "Quest Connection." One of my favorite features of questions is that the first five letters spells "QUEST." Indeed that is what they are, aren't they?! Glad to be connected here.
Chad - Your energy and connectivity is contagious. Watching your videos is not only a great way to start my day because of that positive energy injection, but also because it makes me a better person real time. I learn something with every video and I can't wait to share what I learn. Thank you!
Jan, "making people better real time!" That might be a new motto. Truly though, thank you. Incredibly generous of you and I'm grateful to be connected through here.
Chad: The enthusiasm you exude in every video shines a light on the strategies you offer that makes them memorable... and motivates me to want to try them out. Using questions to connect and sharing our stories reminds me always of the fundamentals of being human. I am always happy to see you in my inbox.
Chad: I appreciate your positive energy, the way you talk with your hands and your whole body really transmits your energy through the screen and into me! I also appreciate the way you organize the content of your videos into short bites of information, mindful of the time of your audience and always with the feeling that you know we care deeply about our students (teams) and you know we can be even better. Lastly, I am in awe of how you allow yourself to be vulnerable by sharing stories about yourself or how you use your strategies in your own life to balance family, work, life. Thank you!
Of all the videos I watch, I share yours the most. Your content is super-practical and applicable. I get the impression that you are the kind of guy whose greatest aspiration is to empower others and that enthusiasm shines through.
The material you put together is incredibly valuable. It’s immediately actionable and in bite size chunks so that it does not feel overwhelming. It’s evident that you really care about creating connections that matter, particularly between leaders and their teams.
Chad, Your videos always make me smile and give me something to think about. I appreciate the time you take to make them great. Please keep me thinking about new ways to connect to others
Darla, it's an honor for me to be able to spark a smile on your face through this videos. That alone is enough for me to record the next set of videos tomorrow!
Chad I appreciate how you have a vision for the gift others can be through their lives/positions and seek to make the world better through sharing that vision through creativity, insight and humor. Thanks for your generosity of spirit.
Susan, wow! Even though I did ask for some feedback/affirmation in the comments, I sort of forgot seeing as I recorded the video a while ago. This was quite meaningful! I think back to the first meeting we had back in that conference room in Asheville, NC! Fun to stay connected.
Your enthusiasm keeps me watching. I'm pretty much zoomed and videoed out, but I watch yours for that shot of enthusiasm that reminds me of why I entered the leadership field to start with!
It's pretty tough not to get Zoomed out at some point for sure. Not sure if it helps to know this or not...but I too get some screen aversion now and then.
Hi Chad, I really appreciate your videos which I have been watching since the beginning of the pandemic. You are a generous and talented educator and leader yourself! Thanks!
You nailed it again, Chad! Your videos consistently deliver a dose of helpful insight and fun! The best part though is how you infuse "you" in a fun way every week. Nice work!
Thanks Chad! This comes at the right time for me. We are all living challenging times and that is also impacting our work. I am grateful and always thankful for the work my colleagues/team members do but I will definitely practice the affirmation feedback. Thanks again (hope this was gasoline for you, never stop sharing what’s on your mind!). Take care!
I have found Chad's videos have taught me so much about engaging with groups, he has a way of engaging that captures your attention, so positive, that I recently shared his video with my colleagues at an In-Service. Thank you
Chad, I literally JUST finished giving performance evaluations for my team this morning and wish I would have checked my email sooner. :) I appreciate that you teach very practical, practiced and helpful skills in these videos. You are passionate about high-quality engagement and you are gifted with teaching others how to do this work in practical, doable ways. Thank you!!
The good thing about the timing of this concept of appreciation vs. affirmation is that there is always tomorrow. And the next round of performance reviews. And the the next time somebody's motivation and morale is in the dumps. Affirmation is in short supply currently, so the world (and your team) certainly won't mind a dose now...and three weeks from now. Pun intended?
Only our mothers can tell us apart, my friend. Another super useful/engaging video, thank you. In appreciation, I will share this with my playmeo community. To affirm you - you are truly remarkable, ie your people just want to tell their people about you and the difference you make in their lives (which is to remark.) Play on...
I always enjoy your videos because of your enthusiasm and genuine passion for your field! It's clear you enjoy sharing your ideas with your viewers so they can turn it around and enhance thier professional role. I really value your ideas (I even have a section in my notebook with all notes of the strategies you share in your videos!) and I especially value this one as I am a special education instructional coach and support several teachers, so this is helpful for me in my role to affirm their hard work and dedication, while also maintaining a positive relationship. Thank you!!!
Chad, I love your brief video's. You always have a great lesson! Thank you for all the time you put into these. I very much appreciate a very short segment with one teaching point. 4-5 min max would be ideal. That being said, I keep watching till the end regardless which surprises me every time!
Thanks for sharing! We do actually repost 1-2 minute segments from videos on our We and Me FB page and my Twitter and LinkedIn if you'd like to connect there as well: Twitter: twitter.com/chadlittlefield LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chadlittlefield Thanks for watching to the end here! I wanted RUclips to be the place to do a bit of a deeper dive, which is why most videos hover between 8 to 12 minutes.
Beautiful and powerful distinction between affirmation and appreciation. Good reminder that as educators, we are in a position of power and have the ability to make a positive impact on students' lives in a meaningful way. I loved the example, and the in the moment interaction, with your camera man. His response to the affirmation gave me an "aha" moment that will stick with me to remember the difference between the two. I GOT it on a deeper level.
Love hearing that! Steven makes several appearances in Friday's video too which goes a bit nerdy behind the scenes. Especially as in-person comes back more, I'm looking forward to shooting more video with live demos of ideas/concepts/exercises too.
hey Chad ...wow video ... what it struck me first that for some reason and I did not had time to digest yet I felt this is one is a not-miss video just from the notifications I got ... I have seen them since yesterday and some message convey to me that I should not miss this one .. and spot one (great content & connect with Steven ;) ).. your whole content is superb ..yet still each us inside picks favourites, I put this one to that list. And for an affirmation, I just found it very well designed in the comments below and it is so true that I feel the need to back it up with all my being .. You truly are making people feel-better in real-time! ... enough-said :) Cheers!
I appreciate how much energy you bring to your topic and how much you care about advising us as educators and leaders. Thank you for the personal touch you brought to this episode through your personal story.
Chad your energy is inspiring. It's easy to tell that you love to help people. Your free online products show me that you don't provide content just to profit yourself you want to profit others. You make me feel connected to you and the topic. Keep up the great messages.
Ken, "profiting others" is such a wonderful phrase! You just might see this shared and credited in a future video. Thank you so much for taking the time to write in.
In a convent school, one of our most unpopular teachers would tell the girls “be like an air hostess, patient, calm, polite and respectful don’t be like coyotes.” Results: I was a flight attendant for 14 years of my life before I became a coach/therapist, people saw all those beautiful attributes in me that were mentioned above.😍 Surprising how our subconscious mind takes suggestions.
Chad I so appreciate your what you are doing by making these videos. Your creative energy is inspiring and I learn so much from you. You are a born teacher and have such a talent for making learning interactive and fun!
Deborah, thank you a million times over. It is a comment like this that inspires ME to record the next video. The next idea. The next activity. The next "aha." Thank you.
Chad - Thanks for the inspiration! I've been teaching and coaching teachers since 1968, and I learn something from you in every video. #RoadScholarsVirtualAcademy
Great stuff Chad! Man I can use this! VS. Chad your great presentation skills combined with your contagious energy really help me to learn things of value for my work! You rock. Which would you prefer to hear? I know already. Thank you for this lesson.
hello Chad. So how did you respond to Paul's comment about "not being half the "XX" I thought you were." also, how did he respond after his comment? The reason I asked this is because there's something that can be magical by that little sincere but ever so slight smile and/or eye contact that brings to life more appreciation and respect than the spoken word. oh yes, and thank you for your "connection before content" approach to training and life. This is so evident in all that you do. Every video I watch I feel as if I am sitting down with a trusted comrade, definitely feeling connected to you as I pick up tidbits of "content" that I can use in everyday life.
Stephen, wonderful (and funny) question...honestly I think I was too shocked by his comment to truly remember my reaction. But I have a vague memory of saying..."wow...Paul, thank you." Which is funny because since then, my co-founder Will Wise, has encouraged me (and others) to try to respond to affirmations in only one of three. Thank you. Thank you I liked hearing that. Or, thank you I liked hearing that, can you write it down and send it as a letter to my mom." Haha. I probably settled with #1 with Paul. Glad to be in community with you here as well, Stephen.
Wow there is so much to say! I cannot choose from just one! From my first field study for my education degree. I was with a really cool science teacher. He really showed what a teacher could be and how science can be so much fun. It makes science so fun for the kids young and older! He loves showing so much in the design of everything and how wonderful God’s creation really is! I hope to do that to! I’m trying to find my own style! I also tutor fellow college students in a variety of areas and my supervisor is a former educator. I would come into work and feel like my problems would go away! She knows I want to be a teacher and she really gives me great advice. She cares so much and the atmosphere is amazing. I received my report back earlier this semester and a lot of the comments said that I was going to be a great teacher. It’s nice to hear that and it makes me feel amazing. But, I always doubt myself. In my meeting with my supervisor she said that I would be one! Of course, I cried but it means so much when people say it and you don’t believe it yourself. Being a teacher is such a hard and wonderful thing. I hope to make my classroom a place where students not only feel safe, but feel like they are at a second home, and that they can discover the coolest and beauty of God’s creation!
✏️ For teacher appreciation week, comment below with a story of an educator who changed your life. We'll be choosing 10 responses to ship a free deck of We! Engage Cards to as well!
I have found your insights on fostering virtual engagement really interesting, and have considered buying cards for a non-profit I work with. Thanks for your insights and
offering this opportunity!
In my work as a 4-H extension agent, I have witnessed so many fellow youth educators making a difference every day. It is an accumulation of all the little things--- truly getting to know the youth they work with, taking the time to help that one child who is having more difficulty, working nights and weekends to ensure youth have a positive experience.
Mrs. B had compassion. She cried with us when one of our classmates lost his father unexpectedly. She challenged us to be our very best in learning and in life.
No longer a teacher myself but during my years I had two male colleagues, both math teachers who were absolutely brilliant especially with the teens who had a hard time understanding the rules and principles in math. With such enthusiasm, with patience and an attitude that they all were going to pass their exams. It takes someone special to teach someone who has a bit of a harder time learning. Comes to think about it - both of them were named Mats. Maybe takes that name too:)
There are so many, but one who leaps out to me is my computer science teacher in high school....she taught computer science before it was common in schools (early 1990s). But it wasn't the subject she taught, it was how much she cared about her students and their success. I've been out of high school for nearly 30 years and she still keeps in touch and asks how things are! Here's to you, Mrs. Fisher!
I appreciate the way you told me "what to say" - don't tell them what they, affirm how what they did represents who they are. I am working on student quarterly reviews and will ask myself that questions as I prepare my feedback for each student. I really want them to "feel" something.
I suspect you'll notice quite a difference in yourself and in the reaction/response you receive. Have fun with it.
Chad, you bring a lot of energy to the screen, your smile keeps the content interesting, and I agree with Maria you do bring in a personal feeling. You come off as approachable, relatable and I enjoy your conversation.
Thanks a ton for taking a moment to share. Being approachable and down to earth is really important to me.
Chad thank you so much for all the videos you´ve made, they have literally changed my life, help me get direction and recognize this is the calling of my life, I apreaciate your knogledge and your tips, they are always super practical and handy, and your enthusiasm is so abundant and genuine it really inspires me.
Chad, it is increible how you kindness can trascend every message you give through the honesty of your intention to guide us. The impact of your inspiration has reshapped my whole life. I see how you always manage to remind me of the reason I´m doing this and put some new logs into the fire of my passion for connection in the most fun way, I dont even notice this good vibes until I realize hours have gone by, I´ve seen so many videos, took notes, shaped your tips and even when I finish I feel energized, ready, happy, in teh rigth tack, eager and joyful, and if it was not enough I countinue to realize how this resonance just spreads through out the people I love and how I approach life in general, Your input in this world is significant and needed, so thank you kindly,
PHEWF! Thank you kindly for taking such a deliberate moment to write this out. Read your comment right after an internet trolls comment haha. Lovely balance!
I love that you gave a live demonstration plus a personal story. Thank you for sharing really great content Chad!
So glad you found this-on THANKSgiving (in the US) nonetheless!
Chad Littlefield - I am a follower and fan of yours and am grateful for your creative take on connection. You deliver the perfect amount of info to prompt us into going deeper with every video. I admire your commitment to the work it takes to do these snippets of greatness- Thank You!
🙏thank you deeply! In a moment when my motivation/commitment is a 6 out of 10, haha, your comment is a beautiful reminder of the impact to effort ratio that exists for all leaders and educators.
Hi Chad,
Have had feedback sessions with colleagues in the past week and like everyone else, would have loved to listen to this video much sooner.
Your nerdy but deep communication emanates positivity. You embody the emotionally intelligent "leader and educator".
Your authentic content has a lasting impact on all I meet.
Cheers to the next 400 videos ⭐
WOW! Blown away. You have a gift with words. Thank you deeply.
Chad, it’s clear you love what you do, because your enthusiasm and the way you convey your knowledge to the world is making a huge difference. You have literally changed my life, and I try every day to share with others what I learn from you. Thank you. You Rock.
WOW! Thank you. Barry, I actually needed to hear that in this moment having just wrapped up a very tough session with some very burnt out folks!
Chad, as I watch your videos, I truly APPRECIATE the way you help leaders and educators refine our styles, to become even better at positively connecting with our teams. That said, the amount of energy and enthusiasm you give from such a real place, makes me WANT to be an even better leader, coach, and mentor. (I hope you feel AFFIRMED)
I do 🙏 thank you.
Chad, I’m a continuous improvement facilitator/business analyst and am a rabid consumer of your books, videos and resources. What I love about all of them is the energy and passion you exude about your love for helping people grow. I share that too and it resonates and inspires me. Thank you for the positive impact you’ve made on me and and all those I’m fortunate enough to influence! ♥️
Wow! thank you, Laura! Truly heart warming.
Chad, I was in a meeting earlier today about creating team culture, and the question that I walked away with was "how do I give good, creative, and meaningful positive feedback to my collegues?" And then literally opened my email and the notification about this video was at the top of my inbox. Thank you for creating such positive, inspiring videos that answer real questions people have. I so appreciate your obvious care and compassion for people and your desire to see them equipped to make the world a better place through engaging leadership and flourishing team culture!
Hallie! That is actually the universe conspiring to say "you're awesome." That seriously is the best serendipity on the planet. Thanks for taking the time to share!
Great video which summed up a new way my organization thanked volunteers in November. Instead of my appreciating them (I am a Volunteer Coordinator) in generalities, I assigned one staffer to each of the 11 volunteers we as a group selected for awards. The staffer spoke in specifics - and unscripted! - about their qualities of what they bring to our programs. Each one was more heartfelt than I could have ever done. They were doing affirmations, as you describe in this video. The result? Each volunteer gave a spur of the moment acceptance speech of sorts, and I realized that we had a mutual admiration society going on between the staff and volunteers! My smile on my face lasted for over 30 minutes and my cheeks began to ache! LOL But seriously, I will never go back to presenting the awards "on behalf of the staff" - no way! This affirmation practice, by people who are truly in the know and who work side by side with them is far superior.
SOOO... all this to say, you are really onto something here. SPOT ON! Keep up the great work in inspiring us to step up our game. You have an excellent way of breaking down concepts and theories and making the learning so accessible. Were you born a great communicator, or is it something you cultivated? Or both? Hmmmm....
Fun to hear this unpacked! Thanks for sharing. Not sure that I was born a great communicator, but when you focus nearly all time and energy into it for a long time, nature combines with nurture I suppose :-) Still PLENTY of foibles and fumbles off camera though too hah.
I had an English teacher in high school who encouraged me to be different, to stand out and be recognized snd set the bar high for me as well as those around me. He pushed me to be a better writer and prepared me for college. He was not a student favorite because he wasn’t easy. I think that’s precisely why I adored him.
Chad, you show up ready to make a difference in people's lives. You continually find ways to connect with leaders via video and set an example for all of us who've been required to pivot over the last year.
Huge gratitude, my brother! Have we exchanged enough comments/emails for me to call you a brother at this point haha?
Chad, first off, thank you for always sharing your time and passion for leading well. Your videos are always meaningful and transferable to any line of work. Your "people first" mindset is very clear, as you lead with love, energy, experience, and encouragement. You truly are an inspiration.
Darcy, believe it or not, today was filled with annoyingly constructive feedback in my world haha, so your worlds were a welcome offset 😊 Thanks for connecting with me on here.
I once had a supervisor/educator who believed in me, who had my back, challenged, inspired, and encouraged me in all that he did. It was a joy to serve with him.
Chad, I see how enthusiastic and passionate through your words, expressions and gestures. I hope to use these skills in all my engagements.
I love the simple distinguishing definition. I feel I have learned that affirmations unleash passion, effort, and intention which warrants more and more appreciation! My 9th grade English teacher told me that I was a very perceptive person and encouraged me to use that quality in my story writing assignments. I thought I was a good writer (Mrs. B gave me a C+ on an assignment I thought was A+ work) but I was affirmed as a person to strive to be a better English student. Chad, thank you for your practicality once again. 👍🏻
Chad,
This is like the 40 something video I’ve seen of your content, and I’m so appreciative of your enthusiasm, energy and knowledge you share with us leaders and educators. Your liveliness and drive in the way you talk and body language when you present techniques, really sends me lots of positive energy and motivates me to be able to implement all the techniques you teach us! When I’m watching your video, I’m paying more attention than when I’m in class (don’t tell my professor). Keep the videos coming please. Also, thank you Steven for helping design the videos! The content in your videos are so rich, I feel like I’ve improved my ability to connect and develop meaningful connections with others right away.
Robinson Cajamarca
This is amazing, Robinson. Thank you so, so, so much my friend. I feel like we've exchanged about 40 comments too which is probably more interactions than I've had with some of my neighbors. So...it's official, I consider you a neighbor now :-)
Chad, absolutely agree with all the affirmative comments! Your helpful distinction between appreciation and affirmation aligns nicely with some of the tools of Motivational Interviewing, which I suspect you know well. In MI, an affirmation generally begins with "You" rather than "I", and acknowledges some ability, effort, strength, action. Beginning with "you", whether an appreciation or affirmation, helps us focus on the other, which you do with such a spirit of authenticity. Thank you!
Lee, this is a brilliant nuance and add in. I wish I could go back to recording day to weave this in. Next time! Your comment now has me thinking about what TEAM affirmation looks like. Perhaps the pronouns shift from ME to WE. Or perhaps I'm a bit biased toward those pronouns...
Chad, you always come across with a genuine enthusiasm for what you do and an interest in helping to share your knowledge in a way that will connect. While many others create videos to promote themselves, you care about putting things out there that will make all leaders and educators look good because they are doing so in an authentic way.
Thank you! Teaching is so much more fun, fulfilling and impactful than self-promotion or marketing. Glad this shows up as it is certainly my intention. And of course every once in a while, I've gotta drop a line to sign up for the list or pick up a book, haha. But I aim for a 98% ratio of teaching/tools/value and 2% "maybe you'd like this resource."
I appreciate how you help people communicate beyond the surface level. Telling colleagues you appreciate who they are rather than just for things they do helps them feel noticed and appreciated. Thank you for recognizing teachers/educators. My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Dixon, changed my life by being compassionate to all students in her classroom. I had never had a sense of belonging or validation before that. Her genuine sense of caring made me want to become an educator.
Chad, I appreciate your use of props, stories and live demos in your short videos. It really helps me absorb what's in your brain. I look forward to your videos each week! Thank you.
Kim, thank you so much for sharing! I always welcome questions for new topics too if you've got something that is top of mind for you. Feel free to reply and let me know. 90% of my video titles are actual questions that real people have asked 👍👍
You are so enthusiastic, makes me enthusiastic for the topic- like a great professor.
Happy to hear that comes across. It is certainly genuine enthusiasm!
Appreciation - Thank you for sharing your constant wisdom and helpful tips on these RUclips videos so I can capture and cultivate growth from what you pour out.
Affirmation - Your energy, facial expressions, voice fluctuations, and body movement bring energy and a captivating experience to each of your RUclips videos. This energy and entertaining messages you create bring an exciting eagerness when I see a new video of yours pop up. You build great messages and execute them in a bright and creative way. Keep shining your greatness so I can continue to learn from your wisdom you pour out.
Thanks so much for taking the thought and time to share this. I've got a big filming day coming up for a new series of videos and your kind note was fuel for the fire :-)
An additional thought on affirmation vs appreciation. Appreciation is more 'I' focused in the subject - I like that you do this, I appreciate that you make that happen; whereas, affirmation is more 'you' focused - You are really good at ..., your support for the team shows by how you... . Affirmation feels better to receive because of the difference in focus.
One could even argue there is a shift from a "me" focus to a "we" focus. Love the observation, Larry! Thank you for taking the time to share.
Affirmation: Chad all your videos depict that you are very passionate about making a difference in the filed of leaders and educators. You speak from experience and have a clarity on what you want to deliver in each of your videos. You are lively and use relatable examples to connect with your audience. Appreciation: You are doing a great job with the videos. You are focused and your videos are nice and short.
🙏 giant thank you to you.
My 5th grade teacher Ms Susan Wheeler was so encouraging and saw the potential in her students. She looked for the giftedness in all her students and then gave them opportunity to practice that gift. Meant so much to me that years later she was invited to my wedding and 41 years later I am still teaching school and looking for the gifts in my students.
Thank you for sharing - the idea of showing appreciation vs. affirmation is so insightful - I love your content and how you present it!
Thanks, Lisa. Wonderful to connect with you here. I hope our paths cross at some point! 👍👍
You are a person who sees a cameraman as a real person and helps him see himself in a positive light, rather than someone who sees a cameraman merely as a means to an end in getting others to see you yourself in a positive light. And that is rare (even among generally nice people).
Thank you, Erik! I'm also an ACCELERATOR and sometimes that conflicts with the sentiment of really seeing people as people. It's nice to have this reflected back to me as a reminder to also use the BRAKE (or break...) in combination with the accelerator. Thanks.
Hey Chad
I have been watching your videos for some time now on and off and what keeps me coming back is your sincerity and your ability to make topics practical. You always manage to answer the " why" question and have it make sense for everyday application. Your infectious enthusiasm shows through each time and helps to connect me to the bigger picture thank you
i loved the examples that you gave and how you have a passion to help people connect in better ways! thanks (i think that is one of each type from the video, still learning)
Thanks Chad! I appreciate all the effort and content you've created for leaders and educators in bite-sized videos that are easy and enjoyable to digest. I affirm your passion for making learning fun again - for all ages. Your care for learning is inspiring to me. Keep on keeping on!
Thanks so much! Love the name "Quest Connection." One of my favorite features of questions is that the first five letters spells "QUEST." Indeed that is what they are, aren't they?! Glad to be connected here.
Chad - Your energy and connectivity is contagious. Watching your videos is not only a great way to start my day because of that positive energy injection, but also because it makes me a better person real time. I learn something with every video and I can't wait to share what I learn. Thank you!
Jan, "making people better real time!" That might be a new motto. Truly though, thank you. Incredibly generous of you and I'm grateful to be connected through here.
Chad: The enthusiasm you exude in every video shines a light on the strategies you offer that makes them memorable... and motivates me to want to try them out. Using questions to connect and sharing our stories reminds me always of the fundamentals of being human. I am always happy to see you in my inbox.
Angela! I love seeing your name in my “inbox.”
Chad: I appreciate your positive energy, the way you talk with your hands and your whole body really transmits your energy through the screen and into me! I also appreciate the way you organize the content of your videos into short bites of information, mindful of the time of your audience and always with the feeling that you know we care deeply about our students (teams) and you know we can be even better. Lastly, I am in awe of how you allow yourself to be vulnerable by sharing stories about yourself or how you use your strategies in your own life to balance family, work, life. Thank you!
Ana, wow! Your words really have hit me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I don't have anything else to say (for once :-)
Of all the videos I watch, I share yours the most. Your content is super-practical and applicable. I get the impression that you are the kind of guy whose greatest aspiration is to empower others and that enthusiasm shines through.
Sharing these videos is the tallest possible compliment! Thank you deeply.
The material you put together is incredibly valuable. It’s immediately actionable and in bite size chunks so that it does not feel overwhelming. It’s evident that you really care about creating connections that matter, particularly between leaders and their teams.
Chad, Your videos always make me smile and give me something to think about. I appreciate the time you take to make them great. Please keep me thinking about new ways to connect to others
Darla, it's an honor for me to be able to spark a smile on your face through this videos. That alone is enough for me to record the next set of videos tomorrow!
Chad I appreciate how you have a vision for the gift others can be through their lives/positions and seek to make the world better through sharing that vision through creativity, insight and humor. Thanks for your generosity of spirit.
Susan, wow! Even though I did ask for some feedback/affirmation in the comments, I sort of forgot seeing as I recorded the video a while ago. This was quite meaningful! I think back to the first meeting we had back in that conference room in Asheville, NC! Fun to stay connected.
Your enthusiasm keeps me watching. I'm pretty much zoomed and videoed out, but I watch yours for that shot of enthusiasm that reminds me of why I entered the leadership field to start with!
It's pretty tough not to get Zoomed out at some point for sure. Not sure if it helps to know this or not...but I too get some screen aversion now and then.
Hi Chad, I really appreciate your videos which I have been watching since the beginning of the pandemic. You are a generous and talented educator and leader yourself! Thanks!
Thank you! You're handle on RUclips has sparked all sorts of curiosity for me :-)
You nailed it again, Chad! Your videos consistently deliver a dose of helpful insight and fun! The best part though is how you infuse "you" in a fun way every week. Nice work!
Thanks Chad! This comes at the right time for me. We are all living challenging times and that is also impacting our work. I am grateful and always thankful for the work my colleagues/team members do but I will definitely practice the affirmation feedback. Thanks again (hope this was gasoline for you, never stop sharing what’s on your mind!). Take care!
I have found Chad's videos have taught me so much about engaging with groups, he has a way of engaging that captures your attention, so positive, that I recently shared his video with my colleagues at an In-Service. Thank you
Thanks for sharing, Wendy! Love knowing that you found valuable enough to share. That is the tallest compliment indeed!
Chad, I literally JUST finished giving performance evaluations for my team this morning and wish I would have checked my email sooner. :) I appreciate that you teach very practical, practiced and helpful skills in these videos. You are passionate about high-quality engagement and you are gifted with teaching others how to do this work in practical, doable ways. Thank you!!
The good thing about the timing of this concept of appreciation vs. affirmation is that there is always tomorrow. And the next round of performance reviews. And the the next time somebody's motivation and morale is in the dumps. Affirmation is in short supply currently, so the world (and your team) certainly won't mind a dose now...and three weeks from now. Pun intended?
Only our mothers can tell us apart, my friend. Another super useful/engaging video, thank you. In appreciation, I will share this with my playmeo community. To affirm you - you are truly remarkable, ie your people just want to tell their people about you and the difference you make in their lives (which is to remark.) Play on...
Your first comment is 100% true, Mark!
I always enjoy your videos because of your enthusiasm and genuine passion for your field! It's clear you enjoy sharing your ideas with your viewers so they can turn it around and enhance thier professional role. I really value your ideas (I even have a section in my notebook with all notes of the strategies you share in your videos!) and I especially value this one as I am a special education instructional coach and support several teachers, so this is helpful for me in my role to affirm their hard work and dedication, while also maintaining a positive relationship. Thank you!!!
Chad, I love your brief video's. You always have a great lesson! Thank you for all the time you put into these. I very much appreciate a very short segment with one teaching point. 4-5 min max would be ideal. That being said, I keep watching till the end regardless which surprises me every time!
Thanks for sharing! We do actually repost 1-2 minute segments from videos on our We and Me FB page and my Twitter and LinkedIn if you'd like to connect there as well:
Twitter: twitter.com/chadlittlefield
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chadlittlefield
Thanks for watching to the end here! I wanted RUclips to be the place to do a bit of a deeper dive, which is why most videos hover between 8 to 12 minutes.
Beautiful and powerful distinction between affirmation and appreciation. Good reminder that as educators, we are in a position of power and have the ability to make a positive impact on students' lives in a meaningful way. I loved the example, and the in the moment interaction, with your camera man. His response to the affirmation gave me an "aha" moment that will stick with me to remember the difference between the two. I GOT it on a deeper level.
Love hearing that! Steven makes several appearances in Friday's video too which goes a bit nerdy behind the scenes. Especially as in-person comes back more, I'm looking forward to shooting more video with live demos of ideas/concepts/exercises too.
hey Chad ...wow video ... what it struck me first that for some reason and I did not had time to digest yet I felt this is one is a not-miss video just from the notifications I got ... I have seen them since yesterday and some message convey to me that I should not miss this one .. and spot one (great content & connect with Steven ;) ).. your whole content is superb ..yet still each us inside picks favourites, I put this one to that list. And for an affirmation, I just found it very well designed in the comments below and it is so true that I feel the need to back it up with all my being .. You truly are making people feel-better in real-time! ... enough-said :) Cheers!
Far too kind my friend. Thanks for taking the time to type out and share!
I appreciate how much energy you bring to your topic and how much you care about advising us as educators and leaders. Thank you for the personal touch you brought to this episode through your personal story.
Chad your energy is inspiring. It's easy to tell that you love to help people. Your free online products show me that you don't provide content just to profit yourself you want to profit others. You make me feel connected to you and the topic. Keep up the great messages.
Ken, "profiting others" is such a wonderful phrase! You just might see this shared and credited in a future video. Thank you so much for taking the time to write in.
In a convent school, one of our most unpopular teachers would tell the girls “be like an air hostess, patient, calm, polite and respectful don’t be like coyotes.” Results: I was a flight attendant for 14 years of my life before I became a coach/therapist, people saw all those beautiful attributes in me that were mentioned above.😍 Surprising how our subconscious mind takes suggestions.
Super interesting! Thanks for taking the time to share, Anikita.
Chad I so appreciate your what you are doing by making these videos. Your creative energy is inspiring and I learn so much from you. You are a born teacher and have such a talent for making learning interactive and fun!
Deborah, thank you a million times over. It is a comment like this that inspires ME to record the next video. The next idea. The next activity. The next "aha." Thank you.
Chad - Thanks for the inspiration! I've been teaching and coaching teachers since 1968, and I learn something from you in every video. #RoadScholarsVirtualAcademy
Great stuff Chad! Man I can use this! VS. Chad your great presentation skills combined with your contagious energy really help me to learn things of value for my work! You rock. Which would you prefer to hear? I know already. Thank you for this lesson.
hello Chad. So how did you respond to Paul's comment about "not being half the "XX" I thought you were." also, how did he respond after his comment? The reason I asked this is because there's something that can be magical by that little sincere but ever so slight smile and/or eye contact that brings to life more appreciation and respect than the spoken word.
oh yes, and thank you for your "connection before content" approach to training and life. This is so evident in all that you do. Every video I watch I feel as if I am sitting down with a trusted comrade, definitely feeling connected to you as I pick up tidbits of "content" that I can use in everyday life.
Stephen, wonderful (and funny) question...honestly I think I was too shocked by his comment to truly remember my reaction. But I have a vague memory of saying..."wow...Paul, thank you." Which is funny because since then, my co-founder Will Wise, has encouraged me (and others) to try to respond to affirmations in only one of three. Thank you. Thank you I liked hearing that. Or, thank you I liked hearing that, can you write it down and send it as a letter to my mom." Haha. I probably settled with #1 with Paul.
Glad to be in community with you here as well, Stephen.
Wow there is so much to say! I cannot choose from just one! From my first field study for my education degree. I was with a really cool science teacher. He really showed what a teacher could be and how science can be so much fun. It makes science so fun for the kids young and older! He loves showing so much in the design of everything and how wonderful God’s creation really is! I hope to do that to! I’m trying to find my own style!
I also tutor fellow college students in a variety of areas and my supervisor is a former educator. I would come into work and feel like my problems would go away! She knows I want to be a teacher and she really gives me great advice. She cares so much and the atmosphere is amazing. I received my report back earlier this semester and a lot of the comments said that I was going to be a great teacher. It’s nice to hear that and it makes me feel amazing. But, I always doubt myself. In my meeting with my supervisor she said that I would be one! Of course, I cried but it means so much when people say it and you don’t believe it yourself.
Being a teacher is such a hard and wonderful thing. I hope to make my classroom a place where students not only feel safe, but feel like they are at a second home, and that they can discover the coolest and beauty of God’s creation!
On a different note: Let me get one of them card decks please!