The Secret To Motivation: Recognition!

Recognition and appreciation are not "once and done" events. Learn tips to create a recognition culture both at work and at home. You'll be surprised at the positive results!

By Marsha Egan

If you’d like to have energized and motivated employees or members, people who love what they are doing, and a thriving organization, then ask yourself how much of a recognition culture you have in your organization.

Recognition and appreciation are not “once and done” events. To build a recognition culture in your organization, you need to do it regularly and often. And not only you. If you have a recognition culture in your organization, people at all levels of the organization regularly thank and appreciate others for notable deeds.

And the difference between culture and procedure is huge. It is a procedure to have a performance bonus program; it is a culture to have people regularly high fiving each other, sending emails, and appreciating people publicly in meetings over even the smallest accomplishments.

Most people in business or volunteer organizations agree that they would benefit from a recognition culture. Recognition is one of the easiest, least expensive ways to motivate and energize volunteers and employees. Actually, it is mostly free! Why then, can so few boast this attribute? It might be because showing recognition is an “important but not urgent” action—the crises of the day can get in the way of someone taking a moment to appreciate an accomplishment. It might be because the people in charge believe that their employees are well paid, and that is all the motivation they need. It might be just because they forget.

I like to challenge my executive coaching clients to make recognition a habit. The more you do it, the more comfortable you will feel doing it. And the more recognition you infuse into the organization, the more positive motivation and energy you can generate within the organization. It ultimately circles back, and can actually energize YOU!

Here are some ideas you can use:

- Set a brief time each day to reflect on who accomplished a noteworthy deed. By doing this, you can “force yourself” to get in the habit of recognizing people. I like to do this at the end of my day.

- Send an email or leave a handwritten note for the person who deserves the “attagal” or “attaguy.” - Start your meetings with sincere appreciation for even the smallest accomplishments.

- Compliment people mentioning specific results in front of others.

- Publish a “hats off” column in your newsletter; encourage everyone in the organization to contribute

- Tell a person’s boss what a great job he or she did. Compliment your superior for a task well done. - Celebrate the completion of big projects.

Oh, and this works at home, too. When was the last time you thanked or appreciated your spouse or children for doing a difficult task?

If you remind yourself regularly to actively appreciate the behavior you want to see repeated, you’ll change your habits and embrace recognition and appreciation in your daily routine. And it IS contagious. The more you recognize and appreciate behavior you want to see repeated, the greater chance that it will be repeated. Recognition cultures are energized, proactive cultures. In this day and age, we need to move forward quickly. And recognition can supply the energy for that effort. It all goes to the bottom line, doesn’t it?

Marsha Egan, CPCU, PCC is CEO of The Egan Group, Inc., a Reading, PA based professional coaching firm. She is a certified executive coach and professional speaker, specializing in leadership development and can be reached at marsha@marshaegan.com or visit http://www.marshaegan.com .

Gratitude - Your Platinum Card To Prosperity

Gratitude opens doors! It paves the way to abundance and prosperity like nothing else. It can line your pockets with gold and fill your bank account quicker than a New York minute. Yet, how many of you are living from a thankful heart each day?

By Veronica Hay

Gratitude opens doors! It paves the way to abundance and prosperity like nothing else. It can line your pockets with gold and fill your bank account quicker than a New York minute.

Yet, how many of you are living from a thankful heart each day?

I was friends with two neighbors a few years back. One was the kind of person who made you just want to shower her with gifts. She responded with such joy and excitement to everything that I gave her. She raved about every little detail of the presents that I gave her, the way they were wrapped, the way her cat took possession of the boxes and took a nap on them every day. The way the item felt when she wore it or just held it in her hand. The beauty of the ribbons and bows and various embellishments. She always made me feel so uplifted and appreciated that I found myself continually on the lookout for something else that she might delight in.

The other neighbor had great difficulty in receiving and made me feel uneasy and even a little sad that she felt so unworthy of any kindness offered to her. After awhile, I just stopped giving her anything. It was too uncomfortable for both of us.

The Universe responds to us in the exact same way. The more grateful we are, the more things we will be given to be grateful for. The more unappreciative we are and undeserving we feel, the less bounty will find its way to our door.

This reminds me of the saying: “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” There is so much truth to that and it makes absolute scientific sense.

If you want more of all of the good things in life, then take some time each day to really feel grateful for the myriad of blessings that you have already received, from the little things that you take for granted, to the bigger things that you may not even be aware of yet, let alone acknowledged. Make a point of writing them down and even reading them aloud to reinforce their existence in your life. Do this before your head hits the pillow tonight and you will begin to feel your life moving in a new direction.

Since what you focus on expands, focus on your blessings and watch your blessings grow.

If you would like some help in allowing more prosperity into your life today, then I invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to our Wealth Without Limits - Prosperity Series, as well as many other goodies and bonuses when you visit http://www.insightsandinspirations.com/gift.html You will find an uplifting free audio and inspiring video there for you to use as well. From Veronica Hay - The Prosperity Poet and Insights and Inspirations Hub