I’m getting ready for the restart of football (the Amerian variety) in a few weeks. That got me thinking back to a tough fought college championship game between the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama. Georgia won the game but it was what the coach of the Alabama team did that got a lot of attention.
At the press conference afterwards, Coach Nick Saban of the University of Alabama put his arms out and stopped his two star players as they got up to leave the room. Coach Saban immediately acknowledged both players who were visibility upset from the loss. He stated that they were not “defined by one game” and acknowledged that they both “contributed tremendously to the success of this team.” He ended by saying:
I just want to thank them for that and let everyone know how proud I am of these two guys. - Nick Saban
Imagine after a tough loss how much it meant to them to have their efforts acknowledged publicly by their coach. And maybe even more so in defeat.
Why Recognition Matters
Studies show a connection between being recognized for your work and being an engaged and satisfied employee. According to the Workhuman 2019 International Employee Survey Results in The Future of Work is Human Study, there is a correlation between receiving gratitude at work and having a reduced stress level (p. 13).
Interestingly, it also makes a connection between being recognized for work and having trust in the company’s leadership through change (p. 12).
The conclusion of the report states that what employees want in their work culture and from their managers is the same thing--more appreciation (p. 27).
How to Acknowledge Others’ Efforts
Acknowledging someone can take many forms. It can be done individually or in a group setting. It can be done verbally or in written form. It can be as simple as a thank you or a longer description of what they did and how it contributed to the team. Whichever way you decide to recognize someone should be based on what you know about the other person.
For instance, would they be more likely to appreciate a one-on-one discussion or to be acknowledged in a group setting? If you are not sure, ask them!
Being recognized in a large group of people could be mortifying for some people so you want to be sure that you are. considering their needs.
You want to also consider what you are recognizing them for and how to best describe it.
Use the following as a guide to ensure you cover:
· what they did,
· when they did it,
· why it was important and
· how it impacted an individual or the team.
I hope this inspires you to recognize someone on your team today!
Acknowledgement and celebration are essential to fueling passion, making people feel valid and valuable, and giving the team a real sense of progress that makes it all worthwhile. - Dwight Frindt
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