Working on Wonderful

Supervisory 101: recognize the good things your employees do. I recognize the members of my department. I go home every night knowing that I have a super staff.  I have an awesome staff. I know it and they know it too.

Or do they? Sure, I may not always get awards written up and submitted each quarter but at the end of the year, I make up for lost time.  In meetings I acknowledge the output of the department, the work that is done each and everyday and thank people individually for their achievements.  I am often blown away by the initiative and engagement I see. "Great job," I think (and say as I remember and have the time) and consider it exactly that - a part of their job. In most cases, I do not follow up with further recognition.  

Well, over the past 45 days I have been. I have been looking for examples of outstanding customer service by each individual, not by the collective department. I have been presenting each individual with a "WOW" pin for "Working on Wonderful." Now, before you start thinking I am simply wonderful myself, you have to know that this campaign was the result of our Work Life Improvement Committee and I was doing it because all supervisors were required to. I went into this a little bucky because I felt recognition was alive and well in my department and that this campaign would seem a little contrived. Well, I realized that neither was true.

I realized that I was not putting much time and effort into recognition. I realized that I was not seeing the individual contributions of each staff member. I realized that I was not looking. I realized that a little effort goes a long way.  I realized that each employee gained from focused, specific, timely recognition

I realized that I gained more.

Comments

[The Career Encourager]

You've been tagged for a new challenge - can you write a 6-word memoir?
http://careerencouragement.typepad.com/the_career_encouragement_/2008/03/just-6-words.html

Hope you play...

[Jackie Cameron]

Thanks for sharing this Lisa. I will be sure to use your example when someone suggests that this sort of initiative is a "waste of time". Sometimes we really just need to go back to basic human needs - and needing to be recognised does not always have to be measured in £ or $.
Did you get a badge?

[Lisa Rosendahl]

Yes, I did get a badge Jackie :)

[Dan McCarthy]

Lisa –

Thanks for sharing. I love it when an already successful leader can publicly acknowledge their “flaws” and commit to improve. And I bet your team loves it too.

[Ona]

Sometimes I wish supervisors put more thought into how staff would like to be recognized.

Getting a pin, award, plaque, acknowledgement at the annual staff BBQ is great - but not always welcomed.

Some staff like it when their work is acknowledged by the President in a formal letter or thank you card.

Some staff who do volunteer work or committee work might like the Chair of the committee to send a note of commendation to their supervisor to acknowledge what a great addition they were to a team outside of their traditional work role.

And some staff prefer to be quiet about recognition. To just know that their work is appreciated. And that's okay too.

Ask about the ways your staff would like to be recognized.

You'd be surprised at the responses. We were.