Recognition in the workplace
Saying thank you is one of the easiest things to do.
Recognition is such an important part of work life and yet it is so hard to come by. I am still surprised when basic decency is absent in the workplace. I'm glad I continue to be surprised because it means I still believe it exists.
In a recent career, I spent 18 months on a strategic planning process, 8 months of which I completed at night after taking a new job. When the plan was launched this month, along with the organization's first Core Values and a new mission and vision, I received no recognition except from my co-facilitator (who is fantastic) and a few friends.
Recognition doesn’t mean patting someone on the back for every accomplishment. It doesn't need to be public recognition, either. Employees need to learn to take pride in their own work and know their value. As a leader, however, you have a responsibility to your staff to acknowledge their work. A project that spanned 18 months in a $104M organization and which yielded the org's first ever core values? That deserves at minimum a Thank You email.
If managers cannot acknowledge large projects, they certainly aren't acknowledging small ones. Think about how lack of recognition permeates throughout an organization's culture. It sends the message that you are not valuable and you are replaceable. It makes them feel like a cog in a wheel.
Lack of recognition is one of the quickest ways to demoralize your staff.
Some people may think Get over it. You know what you did, focus on that. Don't be so needy. If that's you, and you'd be fine without acknowledgement, ask yourself why you are okay with it. Is it because you think no one needs recognition for their work? If so, why?
I would take on this strategic planning project again but would set better boundaries from the start. I’m grateful for how much I learned. I now consider myself an expert interviewer, listener, and core values facilitator. I interviewed and talked with hundreds of people across the organization, and I learned and incredible amount about people management and organizational culture.
Recommended listening: Brené with Eric Mosley on Making Work Human