Last week I visited the office of one of my executive coaches. I was early for the appointment so I started a conversation with his secretary. I mentioned to her that her boss must be very happy to have someone who comes to the office early and prepares items ready for him for the day. She was speechless. When was the last time you received recognition for all the good work you are doing, I asked? She looked at me for a long moment and finally said never.
In my capacity as an ardent Leadership Workshop facilitator, I have asked questions about giving recognition, and leaders in the workshops have always responded with excuses for not giving recognition. Everybody strives for recognition. We want to feel that what we’re doing matters, and is more than just an idle task. Leaders need to build up courage and confidence to show and give the deserved recognition. It will always be a challenge to begin the practice, and as leaders strive they will find that recognition is an important part of teamwork and a feeling of achievement, and it can be important for anything from mentoring a newcomer, to improving relationships, to career or professional advancement.
Here are some steps that leaders can take to be more open towards giving recognition.
1. Begin with Self-Recognition
We need to give ourselves the respect we deserve and reward ourselves for a job well done. Only if we practice appreciating what we achieve in both our personal and professional lives will we learn the value of recognizing the efforts others put into their accomplishments. Extreme of anything in life can be harmful and thus the same with self-recognition. The end result of self-recognition should not be an increase in our ego.
2. Recognizing all the People in our Life
Give honest and sincere appreciation to others. Do this with passion. It does not have to be major achievements. If we see something good being done, send a message to the recipient. Recognize others during their birthdays, anniversaries, performance excellence etc. All we need to do is to be more observant of events taking place around us.
3. Positive Reinforcement: the Key to Changing Behavior
Look at peoples’ strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses. When someone fails in a task given to them, recognize what was done well and how it can be better. Instead of criticizing what someone does, only focus on what they do well, and what you want them to continue doing. Focus on peoples’ strengths and what they do well. Give others praise and recognition for the behavior you want to strengthen, and see what behavior continues to persist over time. You may be pleasantly surprised, and even feel better for the interaction.
Always look for opportunities to appreciate others. Do it with sincerity. Do it with passion. It is truly fulfilling.
