Last evening, I had attended a presentation given by someone I hadn’t had the chance to meet just yet. After the presentation, I found her in the crowd, tapped her on the shoulder and told her how much I enjoyed what she had to say.

I make it a point to do this whenever someone’s remarks really resonate with me. Encouragement is usually appreciated and sometimes motivational. Most of us like to be recognized for a job well done and welcome the reinforcement. Beyond all, you never know when someone might be having a tough day, and your words might provide a leg up. The best case scenario is that your effort to start a conversation can be the beginning of a relationship.

When I got home last night, I received the nicest note for the words I shared. Who knows? Maybe it was the affirmation this person needed to keep doing good. Taps on shoulders are less common than they probably should be, but I’m increasingly convinced that good leaders should make genuine encouragement something they practice daily. It can lead to some very good people stepping up.