Glenn’s Space: Operation Appreciation and Rule of Doing More

Here’s a tongue twister: Complimentary people are complimented by those they complement with a heightened desire to earn the compliment they received.

I’m convinced that no one, regardless of position, power or education, is immune from the desire for respect and recognition. Insightful leaders are keenly aware that appreciation and encouragement are oxygen to the soul.

In fact, psychologist William James discovered, “The deepest craving of human nature is the need to feel appreciated.”

My experience has been that appreciated people will always do more than they are expected to do.

Greenhouse Effect

A man walks into a greenhouse and watches an employee work with a group of plants. The longer he observed he noted a strange scenario. There was one plant that was receiving no water, nourishment, or attention. The bystander couldn’t resist satisfying his curiosity by asking, “Sir, could you tell me why you’re watering and fertilizing all these plants except that one.”

The gardener held up the plant and responded, “You mean this one?”

“Yes, tell me why?”

“This plant,” replied the gardener, “Really, ought to want to grow.”

Ridiculous, right? Yet that silly example exemplifies the leader who has decided people ought to want to grow without her encouragement and attention. People want to make a difference. They want to feel significant.

Be an opportunist. Look for simple unsuspecting, spontaneous, heartfelt ways to reveal and recognize people’s importance.

Olden Leadership Style

I’m old enough to remember the leadership style that believed if people do something wrong, point it out in vivid detail. When they do something right, leave them alone. You certainly wouldn’t want to interrupt a good thing. (I might have even bought into that concept in my early days).

People ought to want to do a great job with or without being appreciated. That level of thinking is archaic and constipates people’s potential. Even worse, how many number “10” performances go unnoticed, unrecognized, and unrepeated because a leader didn’t take time to celebrate it?

Complimentary people are complimented by those they complement with a heightened desire to earn the compliment they received.

Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton said, “Outstanding leaders go out of the way to boost the self-esteem of the personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” Mr. Walton made self-esteem boosting a way of life. It was just good “people business.”

Appreciation is one of the leader’s most powerful simple tools for catapulting people to higher levels of performance and therefore infuses their lives with natural self-esteem boosters. A simple word of recognition from someone who believes in us is life enriching, if not life changing.

If Operation Appreciation hasn’t been a part of your leadership repertoire, do whatever it takes to implement it now! You certainly don’t want your team to suffer from ADD (Appreciation Deficit Disorder).

Question to Ponder:

How do I go about individually recognizing each person on my team for their contributions?