The
Power of Recognition
Lisa Marie Platske, CEO of Upside Thinking, Inc.
You are not unique.
I know what
you're thinking, "Excuse me, Lisa Marie. Did I read the words
correctly or has my computer added a few letters? I am NOT
unique?!?" Yes, in fact, you did. But, let me finish. You are
not unique. Everyone wants health, happiness, success, and
meaning.
But, you are
special. You are created with talents, skills, and abilities
like no one else on the planet. And, studies show that we all
desire to be recognized and affirmed for the way we use our
talents, skills, and abilities. Tending to this need in others
can help you move mountains in business and life.
Everyone wants
to be recognized for his/her value and worth as a human being.
Appreciating others for who they are rather than simply what
they do can increase a company's worth by up to 500%. Studies
also show that in over 60% of all organizations still today
recognition is underutilized with comments like "in this
economy, the employees should just be happy they're getting a
paycheck". (Yes, I've heard some of them up close and personal.)
Every moment
spent praising another contributes to the bottom line of your
organization whether you own your own business or not. This
doesn't mean failing to address errors and mistakes. However, if
you are going to criticize, you should do so with the desire to
help the person become better than he/she was before.
So, how can you use your power of recognition?
-
Identify 1 person every day that you will recognize.
Call, email, or write but do so with the intention of
simply letting them know how wonderful they are.
-
Spend
time with other Upside Thinkers. Choose friends and
business associates who value others by their words and
their actions.
-
Repeat
the sentence, "I appreciate others for who they are, not
for who I'd like them to be."
-
Invest
in the mentoring experience. Actively seek out mentors
and mentees in order to share your knowledge and pay the
power of recognition forward.
(Remember,
this principle applies to all people, management, peers, and
employees, parents, and siblings alike; it is as important to
recognize up as it is to recognize down!)
May you discover the power of recognition as you lead by valuing
others!
