Appreciation

Your team members might need more validation than you've been giving them.

Many of the artifacts of the past that indicated power and showed success are no longer provided. Flattening the organization has also eliminated promotion opportunities. Career tracks have turned into career plains. 

How do you build a career and your self-esteem if money is your only measure of success?

That might not be the wrong question, but the implied answer is incomplete. We still have other ways of measuring and celebrating success.

We can find ways to show our team members that they are making progress. We can show our team members that we recognition their success and we appreciate their work.

Elevate their status. Distinguish those who achieve their team goals and show them respect beyond the basic into esteemed associate admiration. People didn't stop caring about these things just because companies stopped providing them. No matter what your organizational culture declares, as a leader you are still responsible for your team culture. 

Artifacts matter. Recognition matters. People matter. And people need signs of success.

Thank-you notes, pats on the back, words of praise, and most of all smiles are all tangible ways to deliver intangible motivators. 

Your team members want appreciation and recognition. Why not give it to them?

-- doug smith