"There are two things people want more than sex and money...recognition and praise."
Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics,
Well, that is an interesting perspective! 😳
Rather than debate the quote's accuracy, let's just agree that recognition counts. It shows others you see them and that you appreciate them. It tackles anonymity-- one of the biggest de-motivators in the workplace.*
Here are some different ways to show your team members that they matter. (Because truly, one can only have so many cliche-covered coffee mugs.)
- When introducing a new hire to your team; showcase each team member's special talent or area of expertise (beyond their title).
- No matter what your title or rank, ask your team members for valued input. Park any objections and listen to their ideas.
- Put down your phone and look away from your computer... give someone your full attention. Presence sends a message of worth and respect.
- When applicable, give them a shout out on LinkedIn. For example, highlight the outcome of a project and tag them for being instrumental in its success.
- If you lead a team, make sure every team member knows why their work matters to the team, why the team's work matters to the organization, and why the organization's work matters to the world.
- Purposefully take time to connect with the person you know least on your team. You can start by asking them their favorite part of what they do and what their biggest challenge is.
- Stand up for your team. Show pride for them in front of others. Sing their praises.
- Take someone for coffee and talk to them about anything other than work.
- Keep the entire team on your radar. Look for reasons to acknowledge each person for their wins, efforts, values, persistence, etc.
- Find a way to recognize the team member who is struggling the most. Let them know you see the challenges they are navigating. Provide support as needed.
- Weave recognition into weekly meetings. For example, spend the first 10 minutes of a Friday meeting by giving team members a chance to call out their wins for the week. They could also acknowledge stellar efforts of others on the team.
- Ask those from other departments (internal customers) to give their praise of your team members in writing so you can share it with them. Post it on a slide and show it in a meeting.
- Ask your boss or your boss's boss or the CEO to write a note to someone who deserves recognition.
- Encourage professional development by letting a teammate choose an online class from LinkedIn Learning or another worthy platform. Alternatively, send them to a special conference they are interested in. Upon course completion invite them to teach the highlights to the team.
- Similarly, when sending someone to training, tell them why and how they'll benefit. Acknowledge the challenge of being away from their work while they attend a class. Make sure they have ample backup so they can focus on the training.
- Invite an employee along to an important meeting. Give them more visibility to others.
- Let someone know you see their strengths by offering them the lead on a special project.
- Finally, never underestimate the power of a purposefully placed post-it note. Leave one at a co-worker's workspace with words of appreciation or encouragement. When they stumble upon it, it will brighten their day.
But wait! There are more posts on recognition!
- This one shares the time I was recognized when things went wrong.
- This one is about the time I think I did a really good job at recognizing my group's efforts, even though I broke some rules in the process.
- This one talks about the Platinum Rule and delivering recognition that lands.
The comment feature isn't working, but I'd still love to have a conversation! Email me at 53thingsIthinkIknow@gmail.com
*Patrick Lencioni, leadership guru and author of Three Signs of a Miserable Job cites anonymity as one of three factors that make people leave their jobs.