One of the 10 Influencing Tenets reads: “We each have an insatiable appetite to be respected, appreciated, valued, and heard.”
The Need for Recognition
People need us to recognize them and their contributions. They need us to acknowledge that they make a difference. Without recognition they don’t matter. They aren’t important. And they certainly don’t make a difference.
Manager-Leaders Miss the Boat
Most manager-leaders operate under the false pretense that recognition makes people complacent. So they withhold it, convinced that people will work harder for it. The reality is that the lack of it is makes people feel rejected and when people feel rejected, they’ll reject back. Hence, the plethora of “My boss is a jerk” comments.
Moxie-Leaders Get It
As moxie-leaders, we have the opportunity – and the obligation – to recognize the contributions people make to the battle cry. In so doing, we are helping people meet their need to make a difference, their need to feel important, and their need to be respected and appreciated.
Wayne, OH Gets It
As I cycled through Wayne OH on The Moxie Ride this past summer, I came across this sign painted on the side of the main building in town (pictured above). My first thought, “Does Ken Brooks know he is a sorehead???”
Apparently he does. I interviewed a town resident and she shared that the residents vote every summer for the town sorehead. It is actually an honor to get your name on the wall. Why? No better way to be recognized than to have the town paint your name on the side of a building!
Recognizing others is so easy.
Here are 13 ways to recognize others powerfully in day-to-day interactions.
1.Leverage a weekly report update
Ask people to update you on their accomplishments that week and then acknowledge them.
2. Sing their praises to others
In front of Person A, tell Person B what a great job Person A is doing and why.
3. Employ a “Victory Log”
Ask people to record their ongoing accomplishments since they started working for you and ask to see it periodically.
4. Pause for the applause
Stop people and say thanks for something specifically, like the way they put the agenda together.
5. Encourage people to create a WIN File
This is a file of thank you notes, congratulation emails and cards, certificates, and other wins.
6. Decorate with applause
Encourage people to decorate their cubicle/office with awards, certificates, prizes, acknowledgements.
7. Give gifts and tchotchkes
Let people know you are thinking about them. Give them a gift out of the blue and for no reason other than to acknowledge their contributions. It can be big or small.
8. Put the recognition in writing
Email it, put it in a letter, put it on a plaque. People like to see their name next to your acknowledgement in writing.
9. Be specific with your recognition
A “thank you” is good, but a “thank you for getting the report in on time” is much more powerful.
10. Hang your recognition on the wall
Put the plaque on the wall. Let the world know you think your people rock.
11. Remember people
Remember what people are interested in. Read the paper and rip out an article that you think they’ll like. Send them a link to a website that will further their goals. Give them a book on something they’re interested in.
12. Notice people
Good moods and bad moods. Notice what state they are in. Frenzied, harried, elated. Take notice.
13. Skip the birthday day cake
They would rather be involved in a financial discussion about the company than be excluded. A birthday cake is nice, but never feeds a person’s need to make a difference. It just feeds their waist line. Skip the cake and feed their instinct to win instead.
