“There are two things that people want more than sex and money – recognition and praise.” – Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay Cosmetics
We all forget to do it. You focus on work, meetings, reports, etc. and ignore the most powerful leadership tool you have in our arsenal – recognition and acknowledgment. When you neglect it, your teams tend to wander and lose focus. When you regularly insert it into your leadership practices, you’ll have the best performing and energized team money can buy.
1. Be A Star Catcher. Regularly “catch people doing things right” and recognize them for it. And, Make recognitions self-perpetuating by recognizing those who recognize others. Remember: What gets recognized gets reinforced, and what gets reinforced gets repeated.
2. Develop A List of At Least 20 Ways To Recognize Others. Some ideas to get you started: a homemade Thank You Card or Praise-A-Gram; small gifts: special assignments, etc. If you would like the best Rich Gee recognition tool – check this out.
3. Customize The Recognition You Provide. Ask each member of your team how you can best demonstrate your appreciation for them. Then provide “different strokes for different folks.”
4. Let Everyone “Hold The Trophy”. Be sure each contributing member shares in the recognition for achievements.
If you practice and regularly schedule (not with a calendar, but in the moment) these tips — you will realize that some of the best things in life are free!
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Recognition and acknowledgement can create stars. It isn’t something you do for stars. You do it for everyone on your team, for everyone in your life. It makes them better.
We treat our friends and family with the disrespectful put-downs we call just kidding. It’s ordinary. It’s thoughtless. And, it is damaging. Negation is nine times more effective at its destruction, than affirmation is at its inspiring. Etiquitte was invented to keep us from getting killed by strangers when we do our disrespectful usual. The stranger might be crazy, but we know we are can safely kill our friends and family.
Always affirm. The do something right. Find it. Praise it. It’s hard work. Affirm both at work and beyond work.