Raising the Bar on Recognition

“One of the biggest ironies cited by leadership experts is that the recognition techniques that often have the greatest motivational impact are practiced the least.”

Not too long ago I was asked to give a presentation at a leadership meeting. My topic was on informal recognition in the workplace—those spontaneous acts of kindness and appreciation we all hopefully share with others from day to day. As I’ve thought about the topic more in recent days, I’ve realized these types of acts are not only powerful and meaningful in the workplace but also in every facet of our lives.

No matter our station in life, we all have the opportunity to create an encouraging environment for others that helps build their confidence and that creates a sense of pride in who they are. One easy way to do this is through informal recognition. Indeed, one simple act of informal recognition can have a significant positive effect on another—and if one, think of the power of many!

Informal recognition can be as simple as telling someone sincerely that you appreciate what they are doing for you. It can also be as elaborate as making signs and hanging banners throughout your house for a child who accomplished a goal or for a spouse, simply because you love them. No matter how big or small, these random and spontaneous acts will add some spice to life, and it will strengthen relationships.

Regardless of what you do, the important thing is what informal recognition does for you as well as the person you are recognizing. Providing informal recognition builds confidence, strengthens relationships, inspires trust, motivates people to be better, encourages people to work together and collaborate, and lastly urges people to informally recognize others as well. The benefits of taking the time to informally recognize others, regardless of who it is, will have a tremendous impact on your relationship with that person.

Now during my presentation at the leadership meeting, I issued a challenge to everyone present, including myself, to “Raise the Bar” on informal recognition. To Raise the Bar, I explained we must do a better job at informally recognizing others than we’ve ever done before. We each made a personal commitment that we’d make a conscious effort to improve our informal recognition efforts.

At this time I’d like to extend the same challenge to whoever may read this. Whether you are a single mother raising children, a professional in the workforce, or a college student earning your degree, I encourage us all to reach out and informally recognize others in our lives. Though it may seem like a difficult task, because it will require effort and time, we can do it! And by doing it, the positive effect it will have on ours and others lives will well outweigh the exertion we put forth. And as we do this, we will become much better leaders and our relationships in our lives will deepen.