For Heaven’s Sake, You Think I Should Thank You for That?!?
Have you ever volunteered your time and then wished you got some recognition for what you did? That doesn’t seem to fit. You VOLUNTEERED, so why should you be recognized?
Well, the simple truth for most of us, myself included, is that we like to be acknowledged and recognized. We appreciate being appreciated. It feels good.
I gave a workshop recently and donated my time and expertise. The attendees were happy, they got good value. Of course that is recognition. But I still walked away feeling that it would have been nice if a certain person acknowledged my efforts. That extra thank-you would have sealed my contribution on a high note. Contrast that with a different story: a few years ago, I received a hand written thank-you note from an executive with a large company. It probably only took him a few minutes to jot that note to me, but it had a huge positive impact, in fact, one that I still remember and I still have that note.
Ok, so what’s the deal, am I a recognition-needy person? Always looking for the pat on the back? No, actually not.
Which brings me to this point: as a leader, as an emotionally intelligent leader, do you know what your employees’ acknowledgment and recognition needs are? Do you meet them? Do you thank them for a specific action they took? Do you go beyond the usual “thanks” in a way that makes each person feel really good?
That workshop experience made me re-think my own giving recognition behavior. It takes conscious energy to be on the lookout for what kind of acknowledgment each person values. So yes, that is what I am trying to do more of.
And dare I say, I think we could do more of thanking each other each day. For the simple things that we take for granted, for the extra helping hand, for the above and beyond effort. But please, be sincere. If you’re just going to go through the motions, then for heaven’s sake, don’t bother.
Tags: acknowledgment, emotionally intelligent, leader, recognition, thanking, thanks
March 6th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Really great reminder of the power of a simple thank you. And I think too, in my role as “manager” in the work I do… this reminds me that sometimes a heartfelt thank-you is all that I need to give. I sometimes wonder if we try too hard to find other ways to ‘make people happy’ when thanks may be all they need.
March 10th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Alison -
Your post reminds me of two resources: The One Minute Manager by by Kenneth Blanchard, Ph.D. and Spencer Johnson, M.D. and an assessment from Inscape Publishing called Workplace Expectations. Both support and offer ways to meet the needs for recognition for every individual.
Volunteer. or paid employee, we all want and need recognition. It gives us a certain fulfllment, a reason for being, if you will.
Your reminder to look for the opportunities to appreciate people more is especially good, given that so many people these days are hard pressed to see what is right in their lives and the world around them. A little sincere appreciation helps both the sender and the receiver!
Thank you for your heartfelt encouragement, served up with a dose of healthy, and emotionally intelligent, reality.
Alicia Smith, DISC Ninja
April 15th, 2009 at 7:18 am
I bookmarked this site, Thank you for good job!