appreciation Archives - Dennis E. Gilbert

27
Apr 21
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Workplace Appreciation, Are You Getting Enough?

Tags : appreciation care goals motivation results

It is a great discussion point. It starts with a question. Are you getting enough workplace appreciation?

People come to work every day. If they aren’t going to a physical shared location, they are doing it from a home office, a makeshift kitchen countertop, or a small nook near their bedroom. Some might believe it is a café or a picnic table in the park, but these are unlikely.

In addition to the paycheck, what brings you to work? If your response is, “Nothing.” Then there probably is very little appreciation and there certainly is not a connection or sense of pride with the work you perform.

For everyone else, and I’m hoping that is you, your work matters. Even what appears as the lowest or dirtiest job has a reason and meaning because without it, the organization is not complete.

Beyond the paycheck, appreciation is probably the most important aspect of your connection with your work.

Is there enough appreciation?

Workplace Appreciation

You might be self-motivated, but for what cause? Why are you self-motivated? Are you building something for yourself or for someone else? What compels and drives you for customer satisfaction? If no one appreciates your work, will you still do it?

Some things are done for you. That isn’t selfish, it’s healthy. Sometimes you do things for other people that provide something in return for you. Something beyond a paycheck.

Everyday people are jockeying for position. They are jockeying for position on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. A post, a comment, and a like on LinkedIn may seem appealing for business connections.

Is it social? In some regards, yes, in other regards it is action that seeks position.

If getting one click or like feels good, ten is better. If you get ten, can you get 25, 50, or 100? And so it begins, the effort becomes the trick of the trade to get more. The level of satisfaction may actually weaken because the reason behind the effort may have shifted.

It shifts because the economy of scale becomes more important than individual impact.

This is why doing the work that matters and being appreciated for it is something special. It makes all of your work feel more important and valued. Certainly, you want many people to appreciate the effort.

Real appreciation is not about a chasing numbers or riding the algorithm wave.

When you realize the difference, everyone who contributes will be much more engaged.

They’ll care, and so will you.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

25
Mar 21
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Workplace Acknowledgment, People Want To Be Seen

Tags : acknowledgment appreciation gratitude worker engagement

Often there is a quest to be seen and to be heard. Have you considered the impact on workplace acknowledgment?

When was the last time you received kudos for a job well done? When was the last time you gave kudos to someone else?

Workplace engagement can be a challenging issue. How people interact, what motivates them and drives them to keep showing up day after day?

It may be some of the simple things that count.

Seen and Heard

It’s common that people want to be both seen and heard. Once in a while, they want to grab the mic and spit out something that is on their mind.

They may be cheerleading change efforts, or they may be complaining and blaming. The culture of the organization will have a lot to do with who gets the mic and when they get it, what they say.

Perhaps the biggest disconnect comes from the boss not knowing the team. The boss brushes past others in the hallway, has a special parking spot, and drives a very expensive car. The boss may also have a different budget for vacations, there is a difference in the food that they eat, and usually the size and location of their home.

People in the field, holding the front line, and getting dirty are people too.

What are you doing to ensure that people are both seen and heard?

Workplace Acknowledgment

Starting a conversation may be a great way to engage. Asking a polite and considerate question may be another. Praising someone for actions above and beyond the call-of-duty works. A simple thank you may be more powerful than you realize.

Leaders move through their day, sometimes with their vision fixed on getting to the other side of the clock. It is true for the front-line and for the C-Suite.

When you acknowledge a co-worker you’ve just created engagement.

It’s an act that is verifiable and seldom forgotten.

Paychecks matter but are quickly forgotten. When you need more engagement you can start but letting people know that they are seen. Ask a question and listen, then they are heard.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

19
Mar 21
-

Best Employee, It Always Depends On The Crowd

Tags : appreciation best employee recognition success

Have you ever wanted to be the best employee? Do you strive for excellence, opportunity, and are a responsibility junkie? Perhaps you are one of the good ones.

Businesses often seek to scale. They want to create an organization that can be proud of the work that they accomplish.

Often they seek to be the best in their community, the best in their region, their State, or go really big and be one of the best in the World.

Some businesses have done this. Microsoft might be one, or Amazon, the financial services sector has some, and certainly many more. The vision and mission of a business can seem overwhelming at times.

Yet there are many business endeavors that seek to serve a smaller market. They have a niche and they may not be global, they may not be Statewide or even regional. In some cases, they may be hometown heroes. Serving a small, but very viable audience.

There are millions of songwriters and performers, but only a few become Worldwide sensations. The same could easily be said about comedians, sports stars, and book authors.

What does success look like to you?

Best Employee

Are you seeking to achieve recognition in your job or career? Have you been known to be the best of a small team, or maybe moved up step-by-step until you reached the C-suite? Have you switched jobs, careers, or relocated to achieve more?

Plenty of people are trying to make their mark. Often, it isn’t about the money. It is about the recognition, the appreciation, and the feeling of accomplishment.

Achieving your success may be closer than you think. Serving a small audience and doing it well is likely much more rewarding than setting your sights on being an overnight success and being immediately propelled to the best in the World.

Being appreciated in a group of twenty-five feels good. Much better than be one of a hundred thousand, or one of a million trying to get a click, a like, or a view on social media channels.

Be a star of your group.

Start with the smallest viable audience and grow from there.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

27
Feb 20
-

Great Work Means Someone Likes It

Tags : appreciation engagement great work morale

Are you doing great work? Have you received a compliment on the quality of your contributions? Is your work inspiring to others? Is the customer satisfied? Do you believe your boss is happy?

Great work has many variables. Certainly, it is very subjective.

Subjective Opinions

In winter months in many parts of the United States it snows. Snow and ice often mean chemically treated roads. Cars get filthy. Do you go for the low-cost drive through car wash or professional detailing?

Which wash is better?

I’m a pizza junkie. I love almost any kind of pizza. I can buy a frozen pizza from the grocery store, or I can buy a handmade pizza from the pizza shop.

Which pizza is better?

Consider these pairs:

Peloton or Echelon

Apple or Android

Ford or Chevrolet

Duluth or Carhartt

Nike or Puma

Pen or pencil

Beach or Mountains

Cash or Credit Card

What if someone asked you to highlight or circle which one is better?

Assume you made your circles. Do you think others would completely agree?

The level of great may be in the eye of the beholder. It may also depend on situations and circumstances.

Do you think you’re doing great things or creating great value?

Great Work

Many employees are always striving to do great stuff. Acknowledgement of their creations may go unnoticed or be highly praised.

When their contribution is not recognized it may not mean that it is lousy work. It may not mean it is great work.

Many people quickly associate motivation with money.

You would be surprised how hard many people will work when they recognize that their effort is appreciated.

Do you want to improve morale and engagement?

Show more appreciation.

People are waiting to be chosen.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

29
Nov 19
-

Think Improvement When It Is Less Than Perfect

Tags : appreciation gratitude happiness improvement perfection

Is perfect possible? Some might quickly suggest that it is. Are you ready to think improvement instead of perfect?

When someone offers to schedule the meeting within your preferred time slot you may respond with, “Perfect.”

It is a kind gesture and also sounds a little energetic. All of that is great.

As time goes by, you may decide that time slot wasn’t so perfect after all.

Your project slipped. You hit a roadblock, or the client just asked for more within the same timeline. Now it’s not so perfect anymore.

Doubtful About Perfect

We often wish for perfect. We wish for the perfect day, the perfect vacation, or even for the perfect relationship or marriage. Although, somewhere in the back of our mind, we’re doubtful about the possibility of perfect.

Because of our doubt, we don’t want to compare today’s accomplishments, we don’t want to discuss our plans for a stay at home vacation because it just sounds unattractive. For our relationships, we put on a good face, we smile, and say things are great.

Having something less than perfect shouldn’t be a reason to feel embarrassment. It shouldn’t be about a comparison to others, and honestly, the lack of perfection may just keep it all real.

Think Improvement

If we have something less than perfect that means there is an opportunity.

There is opportunity for more gratitude, more patience, and deeper listening. Opportunity also means there is a chance to evaluate the positive and to think about how to do more of exactly those things.

When you worry less about perfection and focus more on improvement life seems to offer a little more appreciation. On top of that, everything seems a little less stressful.

Think improvement not perfection.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

13
Mar 19
2

How Long Does Job Appreciation Last?

Tags : appreciation focus job positive

Is appreciation important? At your workplace is job appreciation plentiful?

As with most things in life, job appreciation may be the result of our efforts.

When was the last time you heard, “Thank you, nice work!”?

This is a question I often ask in leadership or cultural development seminars. Reactions vary, but largely it stumps the group. They can’t seem to quickly remember when they’ve heard it, or said it. Some will scoff and shout, “Never!”

Good Focus

We have good days and bad days. When was the last time you said, “Thank you, you just made my day!”?

The best workplace cultures have the determination to place value on appreciation. Not to the extent that praise is overcooked and it becomes a mild form of sarcasm. It must however, have significant emphasis and focus.

We seem to remember vividly the last time someone hurt our feelings, harshly criticized our work, or when we somehow missed the big opportunity.

As a natural human reaction to avoid hurt and pain, our brains try to learn. Yet to learn, we analyze and replay those memories much more than our successes. Some would suggest we are hard-wired this way. It is our evolution, it is in our genes.

Job Appreciation

Should we make job appreciation last longer? Should we try to consciously use our energy to remember the good, relive the success, and focus vividly on accomplishments? Is giving encouragement and praise a cultural value?

The answer seems clear and easy.

In order to do this though, it requires effort and strength. It requires us to put emphasis on the positive. We need to use our energy wisely, share success, and congratulate others.

It is easy to state that you are trying to be positive. Much more difficult is putting it into motion.

In the workplace, it may start by seeing the value that everyone brings to the table. It may start by saying, “Thank you, nice work!”

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

15
Jan 19
-

Does Politeness Make a Difference?

Tags : appreciation civility polite politeness

Does an investment in politeness make a difference? In the workplace, is being polite taken for granted? Will it help you navigate the C-Suite, the tight circle of middle management, or the front line?

When you ask for more information, a return telephone call, or bring a helpful conversation to a close, are you polite?

Politeness

Do you say, “please” or “thank you”?

When we say, “please” the conversation is different. It is not implying a command, it is asking for participation. It suggests that participation is known to be voluntary and with respect it is being sought.

In the voicemail message, “Please give me a call when you get a chance.” is very different from, “Give me a call when you get this message.”

“Would you mind giving me your email address?” is different from, “What’s your email address?” One is much more civil, it is respectful and considerate. The other feels more like a command.

People often want to thank one another by saying, “Thanks.” Email signatures are often preceded with, “Thanks,”. Is that the closing to a command or a meaningful voice of gratitude?

I will often close an email message with, “Thanks so much!” I believe it makes the attempt at gratitude more striking.

Appreciation

In the workplace, giving commands typically is not recognized as being considerate or respectful. Even when the lines of authority suggest that it may be okay.

Employees at all levels often feel that resources are scarce.

What is the most precious resource for many workplace professionals? Time.

When we communicate with politeness it suggests that participation is recognized as optional, and for that, we appreciate you.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

10
Sep 18
-

Balancing Customer Service or Tipping The Scale

Tags : appreciation balancing customer service motivation value

People often suggest that most things in life require balance. Are you balancing customer service? Does the harsh outweigh the delight?

Doing your best work matters. Doing your best work and being recognized for it may feel like it matters even more. What happens when your best work is criticized?

Show Appreciation

Every day employees, business owners, and people helping other people try hard to create satisfaction.

When a compliment is received, it feels pretty good. A referral, a handwritten note, a smile, a nod, or even an email can make a difference for your day, perhaps your week. If it is really great, it may last a lifetime.

We tend to welcome comments and gestures of appreciation. Without much thought we accept the gratitude, grow through it, and work hard for more.

It makes the effort feel worthwhile. Justifies the labor and is satisfying.

No Appreciation

The other side of the coin is when we put in the labor without recognition. When we hold the door, give the smile, and lend a hand and no appreciation is shown. Nothing recognized, no gestures, and no take away.

It happens when people are judged. When biases lead the conversations, and when what is done well or done right is what was expected and for that, no gratitude.

When the extra effort, or even the required effort goes unnoticed, unrecognized, and underappreciated it feels like our work lacks value. A lack of value makes us question the reasons for the work in the first place. No appreciation, no reason to do the work.

Balancing Customer Service

Lack of appreciation is a deal breaker. It can ruin the moment, the day, and leave a lasting undesirable impression. Good news travels fast, but bad news often travels faster.

For everyone that you serve and for everyone that is serving you, is there balance? Are you balancing customer service efforts? Internal or external, are you providing motivation or disengagement?

If you’re going to tip the scale, tip it by providing more value. It’s appreciated.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a five-time author and some of his work includes, #CustServ The Customer Service Culture, and Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

22
May 17
-

The Low Cost of Customer Service

Tags : appreciation budget customer service low cost

Sometimes the price of progress sounds expensive and doing nothing feels like the most attractive option. However, doing nothing might have the highest cost of all. Have you considered the low cost of customer service?

You might feel too tired to brush your teeth. You might be in too much of a hurry to change the oil in your car. Moreover, who really needs the security software upgrade?

The truth is that the best time for any of those things are before you encounter a problem.

After the cavity, after the check engine light, and after your PC is locked up it is much harder. It will be much more difficult to turn the situation around and certainly much more expensive.

Maintain or Replace

Most people will quickly identify with the concept that establishing new customers is much more expensive than maintaining them. Most businesses will tell you they recognize this and that it is an underlying principle they live by. If true, what is the budget?

Is there a budget for your dental care, a budget for your oil change, and a budget for software upgrades? Frankly, it will cost less to maintain than to replace, yet sometimes these items slip through the cracks.

Cost of Customer Service

What should be in your customer service budget?

Probably many things but here are three that are often taken for granted:

Training. Sometimes the more we know the less we do. Conceptually we often have a good idea on how to care for the customer, but do we really do it? Training sometimes is about building, maintaining and reinforcing habits. It’s not always about discovery.
Appreciation. Appreciation is not a day, sale, or a clever slogan. Appreciation is a feeling. Invest some of your budget on showing your customers how much you care. It might be as simple as a thank you or it might be something they value and didn’t expect.
Adding Value. Yes, value is connected to price but it might not always be hidden in the bar code. Value often has a direct connection to quality and the cost of ownership. In any customer relationship, it starts with the customer experience.

Low Cost

What is your budget for maintaining customers? Your cost of customer service might be lower than you think. It will cost you less to maintain than it does to repair or replace.

Some might say, “I already know this.” If you know it, are you doing something about it?

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a four-time author and some of his work includes, Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce and Pivot and Accelerate, The Next Move Is Yours! Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

09
Jan 17
2

Using Appreciation to Create Positive Energy

Tags : appreciation appreciative inquiry culture purpose

Are you surrounded by positive energy? It’s probably not surprising that organizational cultures that make a conscious effort to increase appreciation are also those with more positive energy.

Look around long enough and you’ll find varying opinions about the use of appreciation. On one hand you have the people who prefer to manage with an authoritarian approach and on the other hand you have the people who want to be so appreciative that they forfeit any representation of authority, chain of command, or organizational hierarchy.

Should there be a balance? Perhaps, yes, there should be some balance, but many organizations fail to find the happy medium.

Like many people in my profession I’ve heard and witnessed numerous stories about workplace culture gone wrong. I’ve heard the nicknames, the stereotypes, and the banter echo through the halls and at nearly every water cooler or coffee pot meeting conveniently located somewhere near you.

I’m sure that there is plenty I haven’t heard too.

Management team members and peers alike often label those that they identify with negative energy as a person with a bad attitude. Of course it may be true, they do have a bad attitude but can this attitude be corrected or improved? Can you find or create some sense of balance?

From my experiences employees with the worst attitudes are also the employees who feel the most unappreciated. Is the management or organizational leadership to blame? They might be, but even if they aren’t they should be taking the lead to help improve and create more positive energy.

You might want to consider a few triggers for negative energy, here are several:

Compensation package. We know that there are many sides to this story, but the brutal truth is that compensation is a critical factor for how people feel about their work.
Unclear purpose. Most people will work very hard for a purpose and understanding how their job connects to the organizational mission, vision, and values is often one of the most underestimated factors in workplace motivation.
Anger created by fear. Authoritarian approaches thrive (which is not good) on motivating people by suggesting it is a do it or die, my way or the highway, atmosphere. There is nothing positive about scare tactics for motivation.

How can you turn things around?

One of the easiest ways to look at making a difference is to remove, reduce, or otherwise improve the trigger points.

Employees who feel appreciated are more positive. There are many ways to express appreciation and increase positive energy without focusing on pay or compensation. Much of this will require communicating more effectively to express the values and beliefs of the organizational culture that you want to build.

Three of the most critical elements for increasing appreciation are to show more respect, ask for input, and genuinely thank employees for a job well done, extra efforts, and other important contributions.

Make no mistake, leading and motivating workplace teams requires a conscious effort to build the right kind of culture. Today’s socio-economic conditions and generational challenges all create added pressure for organizations who seek to have a more positive and energized culture.

Positive energy develops from appreciation.

Give more.

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a four-time author and some of his work includes, Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce and Pivot and Accelerate, The Next Move Is Yours! Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Tag Archives: appreciation

Apr 21

-

Workplace Appreciation

Mar 21

-

Seen and Heard

Workplace Acknowledgment

Mar 21

-

Best Employee

Feb 20

-

Subjective Opinions

Great Work

Nov 19

-

Doubtful About Perfect

Think Improvement

Mar 19

Good Focus

Job Appreciation

Jan 19

-

Politeness

Appreciation

Sep 18

-

Show Appreciation

No Appreciation

Balancing Customer Service

May 17

-

Maintain or Replace

Cost of Customer Service

Low Cost

Jan 17

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