During a recent conversation, a now-retired teacher told me that she could not recall ever having been recognized.
I’m certain that if I were able to poll the principals she worked with over her decades-long career, they would assure me that, in fact, each felt they had recognized her several times.
Why then, does she not remember being recognized?
Maybe, it’s because of how she was recognized. The recognition may not have been memorable if it was not Appropriate. Recognition that is Appropriate respects the recipient’s recognition preferences and reflects their interests.
Did her principals understand that recognition is most meaningful (and memorable) to recipients when it is Appropriate?
Appropriate recognition demonstrates that the person providing the recognition values the recipient as an individual, as well as appreciates them for what they do. The manager or supervisor cares enough to learn what is important to each staff member.
“I don’t think that any of my principals knew me well enough to know the best way to recognize me,” the retired teacher said.
Recognition that reflects what’s important to the recipient is more memorable—for the right reasons.
Unfortunately, recognition can also be memorable for the wrong reasons.
Being forced to come to the front of a crowded room to be acknowledged can be a painful experience for staff members who would much prefer to be recognized in private. Introverts will skip formal recognition events to avoid this type of public acknowledgement.
Another way recognition can create negative memories is by making the recipient the target of inappropriate humour. When recognition becomes an impromptu roast people can be embarrassed, creating an experience that’s memorable for its discomfort.
Recognition can also go wrong at meetings when staff members are invited to acknowledge their peers for their assistance and support. When this goes on too long it becomes obvious that some people have received no recognition from their colleagues. The situation becomes even worse when the chair calls attention to who has not been recognized and pleads for someone to come up with some reason—however minor—to recognize the forgotten one.
It’s an experience that that individual won’t soon forget.
When the topic of recognition comes up, no one should ever be able to say they can’t remember being recognized. To avoid this unfortunate situation people should be recognized frequently and recognized in Appropriate ways.
Staff members who recall receiving Appropriate recognition will be more engaged and productive and less likely to leave. People stay where they feel valued as individuals and appreciated for what they do.
Create recognition experiences that staff members will remember for the right reasons. Learn what you can about the people with whom you work and use this information to make recognition Appropriate.
==
Looking to make recognition Appropriate? Check out Thanks, Again! More Simple, Inexpensive Ways for Busy Leaders to Recognize Staff (Theme #3: GREAT Staff Recognition: 5 Pieces that Make the Picture of Appreciation and Gratitude Complete—Appropriate: Personalizing Staff Recognition and Theme #9: Discovering the Most Appropriate Ways to Recognize Staff).
Thanks, Again! Is available at Audreys Books, 10702 Jasper Ave., Edmonton (and on their website) and online from Amazon, Indigo, FriesenPress Bookstore, Barnes & Noble and from the Apple Books app.
brieflynotedonline.wordpress.com 