recognition – Page 2 – leadership dots

leadership dot #4374: text

September 8, 2024September 4, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplett1 Comment

While I’m a big fan of snail mail, sometimes a quick text is just what is needed.

One evening, I helped assemble campaign yard signs. I was one of 30+ people who worked for about an hour — nothing arduous or special about the volunteering for any of us. Yet, later that same evening I received a text from one of the candidates that read: “It was great to see you tonight beth! Thanks for helping with the yard signs!”

It was timely, personalized (even with lowercase b), and a nice note of appreciation beyond her verbal thank-yous.

Even if you say thanks, it’s always nice to see the word, too.

leadership dot #4372: addresses

September 6, 2024September 4, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

If you’re old enough, you’ll remember the ubiquitous slogan of the Yellow Pages — “Let your fingers do the walking.” It still applies today, although now the fingers are tapping a keyboard or touching a phone screen instead of flipping through the pages of a phone book.

I had a momentary longing for those pages when I was trying to write thank-you notes to all my postcard project donors. Many I knew, but there were some for whom I only had email addresses or phone numbers, and it seemed more appropriate to handwrite my appreciation to those who had funded stamps. I either had to pay for an address or give up, and it struck me that these bulky books with everyone’s phone number and address used to be tossed at our doorstep. Today there is less privacy, but the information that once was free is now hard to obtain. I guess we have come full circle.

It reinforces for me that the handwritten, snail mail method of communication is increasingly rare and, thus, has a greater impact than the automated messages that arrive in the mailbox daily. Whether you’re writing a thank-you note or encouraging someone to take action, pen to paper may be your most effective method — but only if you’re lucky enough to have their address!

leadership dot #4282: medals

May 20, 2024May 17, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

When I grew up, if you received a medal it meant you won something — came in first, second, or third — beyond just entering in the event or playing on the team. Then came the era of boosting self-esteem and medals were awarded for participation and many other categories beyond winning.

I, and many others, think that this has created a culture of entitlement where younger people expect to receive a reward for playing a role, and this has caused challenges in employee engagement and volunteer recruitment. Instead of doing things for their intrinsic reward, too many have been conditioned to want an extrinsic reward for their efforts.

Playing off this dreadful trend, Reese’s now makes their famous peanut butter cups in the shape of medals, cheapening the meaning of a medal even more. Just as the chocolate is fleeting, so is the reward that people will feel upon receiving any type of recognition available to everyone, rather than just a select few.

Consider what you can do to buck the recognition-for-all trend. I’m a big proponent of offering praise, acknowledging a job well done, or noting extra effort but save even the chocolate medals for the true winners.

leadership dot #4200: goodbye

February 28, 2024February 27, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplett1 Comment

When an employee leaves a company, there is likely some acknowledgment that the person is going. It may not be a gold watch, but a card, a cake, or a lunch is a usual way of recognizing their contributions.

The same should be true for those who work closely with your organization, even though they are not officially employees. This could be contract workers, interns, temporary staff that have been there for extended periods, on-site partners, etc. — people who are part of your team regardless of the legal personnel distinction.

A team member’s departure is a transition for everyone making a demarcation valuable to all involved. Don’t let them just leave with just a wave.

leadership dot #4186: supporters

February 14, 2024February 13, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

There were wonderful musical contributions at a church service, and the musicians themselves were rightly appreciated for their talents — but much of what makes them look good comes from the wizardry of the control board and the person who ensures the right sound and lighting enhancements to the music. These technicians are never invited to bow at the conclusion of a performance, even though their skills are essential to the overall experience.

It happens with tech crews at all types of shows, but also with equipment managers in sporting events, speechwriters and analysts for politicians, lab assistants, medical techs, delivery people, and hundreds of other supporting roles that make the work of front-of-the-house professionals possible.

Today as you’re sharing love, spread some appreciation for the behind-the-scenes people who are the backbone of most operations. The world wouldn’t work without them.

leadership dot #4152: honorable closure

January 11, 2024January 10, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

In 1869, the transcontinental railroad’s completion was marked with much fanfare and a “Golden Spike” — commemorating the end of a years-long project to connect the coasts. In 1978, the concept was modified as a gold-tinted concrete stripe when the 3,000 miles of I-90 were completed, connecting Boston to Seattle. The gold section was covered during paving projects over the years, but the Minnesota Department of Transportation is recreating it during its 2023-24 rebuild of the highway.

Such steps are examples of honorable closure that are important for any project, not just when building a railroad or interstate. Taking that extra step to commemorate an end helps people to reflect on and celebrate their accomplishments. This can take the form of an exercise to wrap up a workshop, a note of appreciation at the end of a project, the signing of a beam on a construction effort, or even just a moment of pause at the final meeting of a team — as long as it is something intentional that notes the end of the phase.

Instead of racing on to whatever is next, I invite you to create your own version of the Golden Spike and note the completion of your accomplishment in a tactile and thoughtful way.

Recreation of the gold-tinted final piece of I-90. Picture from MnDOT.

leadership dot #4101: banner

November 11, 2023November 10, 2023by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

There are many plaques and memorials honoring veterans but one of the more visible ways I have seen was in Three Oaks, Michigan where servicemembers are featured on banners lining the city’s downtown. It brings to life faces and helps people realize — every day, not just on holidays — the men and women who sacrificed for our country.

Two takeaways — One, give recognition to veterans today — it’s a holiday to celebrate anyone who is serving or who has served. Two, consider how you can find ways to honor those important to your organization or community in visible, public ways that showcase the humanity of those you are recognizing, beyond just a name on a plaque.

leadership dot #4063: gradually

September 28, 2023September 27, 2023by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

When does summer become fall? I think about this as I watch the season I love slowly slip away and autumn take her place.

There are some transitions that have a clear demarcation — you start a new job, receive a degree, get married, etc. But like in nature, other transitions happen through a slow evolution — your relationship becomes serious, your work on a project morphs into your whole job, or one day your anger becomes advocacy.

There are usually celebrations for the distinct transitions but those without a clear demarcation warrant acknowledgment, too. Even if we slide into something, it’s important to have a moment of recognition that we are entering a new phase.

For example, consider an independent contractor who accepts fewer gigs and one day finds themselves retired. There would be no gold watch or cake in the break room — their job calendar would just be blank, but their retirement is just as significant as someone who punches out for the final time.

Raise your consciousness of the gradual transitions you — and others in your circle — are making. When norms don’t lend themselves to a public affirmation of the change, be the one who notices it.

leadership dot #4062: remembrance

September 27, 2023September 26, 2023by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

The board room of our credit union headquarters includes a wall of photos featuring past board members. The pictures are arranged in an artistic way, minimizing the impact of some images in black and white, some in color, and even some cut out of a printed piece. I like how they have made the wall more randomized and visually appealing instead of a staid and linear display of faces.

Mostly, I like how they have found a way to honor past board members. Too often, people serve and are forgotten, even those who held leadership positions in the organization.

How can you adapt the credit union’s idea to recognize key people from your past? You could do so for your family tree as well as for your organization’s history — merging art with remembrance, and the past with the present.

Dupaco Community Credit Union Headquarters, Dubuque, Iowa

leadership dot #3998: paw-some

July 19, 2023July 18, 2023by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

When I came home, there was a notecard at my doorstep addressed to “our favorite neighbor.” Who wouldn’t like to receive that?

It read: Thank you for the water bowl! It helps big thirsty pups like us stay cool and hydrated coming up this big hill! We think you’re paw-some! Love, Max and Chloe. P.S. See a dip of us enjoying the water on social media. Our dog walker always shows us off!

It turns out that Max and Chloe are the beautiful German Shepherds that I see using the bowl of water that I have on my sidewalk for dogs to use in the summer. Lots of dogs use it, but this dog walker is the only one who took a moment to share her appreciation.

I’ve often talked about the power of handwritten notes, especially those written to those “unusual suspects” who don’t often (ever?) receive recognition for their good deeds. This note is a perfect example of something that took only a few minutes to write but had an impact on me.

Think about whose day you — or even your dogs — can brighten by handwriting a word of thanks today.