Surprise and Delight

Have you had any recent experiences of surprise and delight?

I had one a few weeks ago while taking my car to the mechanic.

After several frustrating trips to the dealership (and after a friend convinced me that the sound coming from my brakes was not normal), I decided to try a new mechanic.

Not only did this new mechanic fit me in at 9:30 pm, but he showed me both the issue underneath the car (when I dropped it off) and the fix (when I picked it up).

After I paid, he gave me a hug goodbye.

Surprise and delight.

This month, after ordering a few work-related items from Etsy, the items arrived - beautifully wrapped in eco-friendly twine, with a hand-written note from the creator.

Surprise and delight.

This week, while visiting a new space, I opened the door to be greeted by a personalized note and two perfectly placed desserts on a small white plate, and a bag full of surprise goodies, dropped off by a dear friend.

Double surprise and delight.

Surprise and delight feels, well, extra delightful these days.

As a business or leadership strategy, it doesn't require a large investment of time or energy and can make all the difference.

At a time when many are grappling with feelings of disconnection and isolation, surprise and delight can connect us to a shared sense of joy.

Surprise and delight might come in the form of a piece of snail mail, a random stop-by to a friend's front door, a complimentary dessert, or a little something extra that says, “I care about you.”

Interestingly, in my work with teams, many team members remember hand written notes and inexpensive gift items more than financial bonuses.

What do you think?

Have you had any recent moments of surprise and delight?

Thank you for reading.