Pause to Plan. Pause to Praise.
Dec 19, 2025
Written By Bart Berkey | Most People Don't
I just returned from facilitating a two-day Sales and Service Excellence training in Boston.
This group was tenured, already committed to their brand and engaged.
Leadership's goal was to further unite their teams and inspire them to work together rather than in silos, to strive to exceed their next year's goals.
One of the most powerful takeaways from this already motivated and successful group was beautifully simple:
Pause to plan.
Pause to praise.
Why is this important?
We're busy. Most of us.
So much of what we do, at work and in life, becomes about checking boxes.
Next. Done. Next. Done.... etc.
Emails sent.
Meetings attended.
Tasks completed.
And yes, it feels great to cross things off a list.
But the question worth asking is this...
Are the things we’re doing, what truly matters most?
Are we simply responding to what’s coming at us,
or are we intentionally choosing actions that move us forward personally, professionally, and as a team?
Are you providing "service" or "service excellence"?
There is a big difference between transactional and transformative selling and servicing.
When demands are constantly pushing and pulling us, it's easy to fall into a transactional mindset.
For long term goals and success, it's important to pause and access from time to time.
Can you do better?
Are you looking people in the eye and saying thank you? Are we focusing on "People First,
Always"? Continue reading below to find out how...
This is important not only to your clients and prospects but also to the co-workers you work with all year long.
When you deliberately pause, even briefly, clarity shows up.
Three Minutes That Mattered
In Boston, we did a short exercise.
Just three minutes.
During this time, I asked the Sales and Operational Service leaders to identify more than ten priorities for their shared clients and prospect.
What stood out wasn’t just their separate lists, it was actually the alignment of the two lists.
When people pause to plan together, they see more clearly, communicate more intentionally, and appreciate the value of how interconnected their roles really are.
A Moment at 7:00 AM
The meeting room was quiet, set-up for the agenda ahead. Before the room filled and the day officially began, I witnessed something that brought this message to life.
Maria, a team member was setting up our breakfast.
As she worked, colleagues from different departments stopped into the meeting room intentionally to greet her.
Some hugged her.
Some kissed her on the cheek.
Others shook her hand.
Although they may not have been part of our meeting, they deliberately chose to say hello and connect with her.
As you can imagine, Maria is positive and genuinely joyful about what she does every day.
Since I noticed this too, I also thanked her. She smiled and said something along the lines of:
“Of course, my pleasure, it’s my job, and I love it.”
She wasn’t seeking recognition.
She was simply being herself.
As most of you know, I often give gratitude stone's during my presentations.
One of the participants of this event, Bridget, gave Maria the gratitude stone that she received during my presentation.
Instead of saying it was from her, she didn’t take credit. she shared that the stone was a gesture of appreciation from the entire group meeting that day, and explained why it mattered.
Maria was overjoyed.
She said it was one of the most meaningful things she had received in quite some time.
A simple stone.
Given with authenticity & appreciation
Received with joy and gratitude.
That Doesn’t Happen Without Taking Time to Pause
We're on auto pilot, we're in a routine, we've got a lot on our plates.
Moments like this don’t happen when we’re rushing from task to task.
They happen when we pause.
Gratitude can be taken for granted.
We don't always acknowledge those that matter and help facilitate what we achieve as a group or a team.
When individuals and leaders pause to praise, there can be a distinct shift in the energy and accomplishments within the organization as a whole.
This directly effects work culture which also contributes to the success and longevity of the people that want to continue staying with the team.
As the New Year Approaches
And as we move toward a new year, here’s a simple invitation.
Slow down, even just a little.
Enjoy the holidays.
The new year offers you a blank slate
Start by identifying:
- 3 professional areas you want to improve
- 3 personal areas you want to improve
And then reflect and identify?
Who deserves recognition for work they did this year?
Who has made a difference?
Who do you want to learn from, support, or thank?
This is where growth starts for the year ahead.
Pause to plan.
Pause to praise.
Most people don’t.
But you can.
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Episode #9 - "People First, Always", Milt Herbert, Executive Director of the Boston Convention Marketing Center
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