Recently I decided to treat a few of my team members (who report to me) to a dinner. It was a way of thanking them for a job well done on a recent project. Another one in the bag - on time and on budget. Nice work folks!
Due to a meeting running long, I was about fifteen minutes late to the dinner. Sending a text ahead, I asked them to enjoy themselves at the bar and I would be joining them shortly. Walking in, I noticed a couple of the team members standing at the bar with their backs to me. They did not know I was behind them. As I walked up to them, I heard one of them say "That's why I like working here!"
My curiosity was piqued, but I didn't want to appear like I was eavesdropping. I wasn't. It was simply serendipitous timing.
Walking through the office a couple days later I, yet again, overheard one of the team members saying how much (she) was looking forward to our next dinner and that it made (her) feel like we actually cared and appreciated the time and effort (the team) put into a project. Moments later, one of the other team members, who was just recently hired, came into the room and began dressing down her previous employer. "They would give us courteous 'thank yous' here and there. But a dinner? Never! I hated working there.", she said.
I have made it a long standing rule that birthdays, special achievements, going above and beyond, and even the occasional wedding/birth announcement were met with at least a card - signed by everyone - and a lunch or dinner for the entire team. To me, it just seemed to be the right thing to do. Little did I know the impression it was leaving on the team.
Clearly the new team member felt underappreciated and over worked at her previous job. And clearly the more senior of my team members enjoyed the simple thoughtfulness of a dinner.
Nearly all of us have worked in a place where we felt like we were not part of the process - and not appreciated for our efforts. Even when I was a kid, I would work more slowly and begrudgingly when someone didn't bother to acknowledge the extra effort I put towards a task. I am convinced that the current workplace is no different.
So next time you have an opportunity to thank or acknowledge the team member (or members) who did their job, and did it well - use it. It's not rocket science to see that what a person's boss thinks of them has a definite impact on their outlook in the workplace. Logically that has an impact on their performance. Money's great. But a pat on the back and money are ten-times more effective together.
It's a win-win to let them win!
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