4 ways to thank
Thank you!
Welcome Thanksgiving. We all have a lot to be thankful for and we ought to reflect on that as this week speeds by. And we ought to tell our people how thankful we are for them. After all we are not leaders without them. In the spirit of thank you, allow me offer some ways I have thanked my people.
Just by saying the word or phrase but by looking them in the eye. A heartfelt 'thank you' should be delivered as you pause, say the person's name, look them in the eye, and thank them.
A written thank you card. I express myself best in the written word (duh!). Take a few moments by yourself and write out a note of thanks for a person's performance. I still have thank you notes I received from others, they mean that much.
Recognize and address what they have shared with you and the team. Place value on their input/ideas/feedback. This recognition of someone is a form of appreciation. You can connect with them off the cuff and talk about that 'thing' or problem they brought up previously.
Reward them. Monetary rewards are nice but short-lived. Give them something tangible they might hang on their wall or place near their computer on their desk. They will remember if forever. The ideas in this space are endless. Do set a standard of awards. You don't want to recognize someone formally then miss another person for equal performance down the road.
A simple but important message today as we kick off Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for you, my reader and for the great feedback (your thanks to me) I receive following may of these blogs. I'll be with family this week filling one of my buckets so that I come back a better leader. I hope the same for you.
Happy Thanksgiving and Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell