Recognition…

In my opinion, we all have time to offer recognition and positive reinforcement to those in our lives.  Permit me to take another moment and recognize you! 

I know how busy you are; and Lord knows the volume of incoming emails, texts, phone calls, and other interruptions you face each day.  So again, THANK YOU for choosing to read me! 

Speaking of thank-yous and of recognition… 

I have written often about the motivational power of recognition in the business world.  I continue to believe it is one of the most under-leveraged and perhaps even misunderstood tools available to managers, coaches, and leaders.  That may be especially true during these times of “work-at-home” settings and "quiet quitting" employees.  What do you suppose your best employees are up to at this very moment? 

Re-Recruiting… 

If you’re not recruiting your best people; you’re the only one who isn't. 

                   Beverly Kaye 

I know wage increases get a lot of publicity these days, but is that the only way to retain employees?   In the book, Love 'Em or Lose 'Em © Rosabeth Moos Kanter offered: 

Compensation is a right; recognition is a gift.

Take the sales profession for instance.  The novice believes money drives performance.  Study after study has shown money doesn’t even make the top 10 in what drives sales behavior.  I suspect that holds true with many professions. 

Performance can be propelled in other ways.  Recognition is powerful, but only if it is offered.   Back to Love 'Em or Lose 'Em © and Beverly Kaye: 

A study of more than 4,000 businesses across Australia and New Zealand found that three-fourths of employees are starved for recognition, receiving it from their managers only monthly, quarterly, or once a year.  And 11 percent received no praise at all! 

Warren Bemis added: 

Think about how you felt the last time someone thanked you.  If it feels so good to receive it, why would we so often fail to give it?  So many otherwise able managers act as if compliments come out of their bank accounts. 

Is this a common phenomenon in your world?  Do your managers give positive reinforcement frequently?  Or have they become so busy; so automated; so inundated; so robotic; they don’t easily pause to say, “Thank you for your work” very often? 

Of course, there are many ways to offer genuine recognition to employees.  Take patience and the opportunity to learn from one’s mistakes as an example.  It works for even the most high-powered executives: 

A senior manager made a mistake that cost his company $10 million.  As he walked into his boss's office, he anticipated anger and most probably a firing.  His boss asked him what he had learned from the mistake, and he quickly listed all the things he would do differently next time.  Then he waited for the ax to fall.  And he waited.  Finally, he asked, "Aren't you going to fire me?"  The boss answered, "Why would I fire you?  I just invested $10 million in your learning. 

Harry Beckwith

Getting back to top salespeople for a moment, it’s been my experience that they in particular are not motivated (or retained for that matter) by mere money.  However, I have never met a successful sales rep who didn’t shine upon receiving recognition.  I bet this principle applies to all types of employees; readers too! 

So, thank you again for reading my periodic posts.  It’s the type of recognition any author (especially this one) appreciates. 

                                                            GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.