I remember once sitting around the table with my faculty advisory committee. The committee consisted of four teachers from different grade levels and disciplines within the school and was designed to offer me feedback on various programs and change initiatives as well as be my ears on the ground.
At one point the conversation moved to hand written thank you notes that I had penned for each staff member over the summer and left for them on the first day of teacher meetings. The text was largely the same for each note, with one unique line for every staff member that highlighted a personal quality. It read: “I really appreciate the way that you…” and would focus on something like a teacher’s passion, creativity, contribution to the team, etc. One committee member commented on how much the note that she received meant to her. She had posted it on the wall above her desk and looked at it often for inspiration.
It is not a secret that job satisfaction in this country is not where it should be. A 2014 Conference Board report says that the majority of Americans (52.3%) are unhappy at work. What makes our workers happiest? The CB report says that “interest in work” provides satisfaction to 59% of the workplace. Even more fulfilling was “people at work,” which 60.6% said they liked. Similarly, an expansive study by Boston Consulting Group found that the No. 1 factor for employee happiness on the job is getting appreciated for work. (There are many other factors that contribute to workplace happiness, such as strong alignment between skills, passion and job description, as well as fair, if not robust, compensation.)
The question for me is this: If interpersonal relationships and the expression of appreciation are so important to employees, why aren’t leaders spending more time doing it (as evidenced by the high rate of employment-related unhappiness)? It would appear that the following factors and mindsets are to blame:
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It takes too much time. Leaders are busy people with many responsibilities. Their days are filled with meetings, tasks to complete, and employees to oversee and evaluate. There simply isn’t the time to share praise and appreciation, particularly to craft words that are sincere and personal.
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I really need to get to know my people. It’s really hard to express such feelings to people that you don’t know all that well, particularly on a personal level. Getting to know people takes time, effort, and a genuine desire to connect with others. Easier said than done.
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If I praise one person, I need to do so for everyone else. So often, we get stuck in the mindset of equality leadership, meaning to say that if we demonstrate approval of one employee we must do so for all. We fear that it may come across as preferential treatment to only acknowledge some of our colleagues. And, as we noted above, who has the time to praise ‘em all?
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I don’t need it, why should they? Leaders are typically hard working folks who earned their posts in part because of their deep levels of commitment and self-motivation. They think that their people should be similarly motivated, and that praise and other external influences are to be avoided.
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I don’t want to create smugness and complacency. Perhaps some leaders worry that excessive praise will lead to slacking and other adverse effects. People who think that they are succeeding often take their foot off of the gas pedal, and fail to achieve to previous levels.
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Is it really such a big deal? While research clearly demonstrates the connection between recognition and job satisfaction, it may not be clear that satisfaction at the workplace really matters. Who cares if they’re happy, so long as the work gets done?
Without question, such thinking is both narrow and counterproductive. Logic dictates that satisfied, appreciated employees make for happy, productive workplaces. They are likelier to be engaged in their work, to convey positivity to others, and to remain focused and determined when things get tough, because they know that their efforts aren’t going unnoticed or appreciated. They will also likely stick around when other opportunities present themselves, cutting down on recruitment and training costs, not to mention the impact of losing a key player in the middle of an important project.
And, to those leaders who think that they did not ever need some support and appreciation to get the job done, I ask how much more they could have achieved with more fuel to fire their engines.
The implication for leaders is that appreciation has to be expressed, even if it means taking from something else or delegating some current responsibilities. Donald Peterson, former chairman of Ford Motor Co., said the most important 10 minutes of his day were spent boosting the people around him. He understood that his people needed to be stroked, and used a few minutes each day to get his employees charged up for success.
So take the time to get to know everyone well. This way you can offer targeted, meaningful, personal feedback to everyone in your employ. If you do not oversee someone, ask their supervisor about their performance and special qualities. And then find ways to express them. Orally is good. In writing is even better, because they can show it off and refer back during tough moments. Don’t worry about smugness or complacency. Continue to set goals with them and hold them accountable. That will keep the honest, focused and growth-oriented.
Mark Twain famously said that he could go for two months on one strong compliment. If Twain, with all of his success, notoriety, and acclaim, was so dependent on others’ opinions, think about how much your well-delivered and considerate comments can do for the people who you are paying to help you grow and advance your business.
Naphtali Hoff (@impactfulcoach) became an executive coach and consultant following a 15-year career as an educator and school administrator. Read his e-book “Core Essentials of Leadership” and his blog at impactfulcoaching.com/blog.
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