When was the last time someone presented you with a sticker? ?I remember in Elementary School being given a sticker that was especially memorable. ?It featured a picture of a smiling cartoon lion and featured the caption,?“No lying, I’ve been trying.”
Bad pun aside, it was interesting that the sticker wasn’t given in recognition for excellence. Instead it was designed to show encouragement for improvement in one of my weaker subjects.
In the adult world people tend to receive recognition for either very good or very poor work. ?Not much attention is paid to improvement.
In sports, some fans will mock the concept of a “good” loss, where a team plays better but not well enough to win. ?But perhaps such a thing does exist.
In the workplace, many employees are stressed out by the pressure to get more work done in less time. They’re also worried about losing their jobs due to the recession. ?As leaders, should more be done to reduce these stresses that are likely distracting from your goals?
Spend a week or two focusing on where the members of your team are improving. ?Don’t just focus on your superstars. ?See if this recognition of effort changes the mood of your organization.
Adults are not kids but they haven’t outgrown the need for positive reinforcement.
