Recognizing the efforts and goal achievements of your employees, peers, contractors, managers and you collaborators is an essential and effective principle to apply. It helps build up team dynamics, moreover it will help you find more reasons to celebrate the achievements of others and have fun doing it.

Some of the key rules or thoughts I gathered based on my conversation with leaders around this subject include: 

• Q1: Are there any right or wrong views about recognition?
• Q2: Why receive a recognition on what you are supposed to do already?
• Q3: How else can I leverage recognition in the workplace?

A1: There are no right or wrong views about recognition, the actions are just diverse. Recognition becomes very effective when people styles are taken into consideration and leveraged constructively. People should find creative and meaningful way to recognize other people. It's not just about the WHAT or WHY in recognition that matters, it is also the HOW.

A2:  Recognition is and should be a 2-way real-time action. Because, we all know this, it feels better to give than to receive, we should not be too quick in "shutting down", turning down, or even "getting offended" by an act of recognition bestowed upon us just because we think "we were just doing our job". Be aware that the person recognizing you is feeling pretty good about the recognition. So, let's allow that person to enjoy the moment. Whenever I feel this way (meaning "I was just doing my job or I just wanted to be helpful in helping a person or organization.."), I make sure I remind myself about the fact that it's not just about me, but it is also about the other person - the granter of the recognition. So, I turn my view of the act, and that makes me now feel pretty good about what I did... I just helped the other person feel good and more confident about themself by allowing them honor me. It's a 2-way real-time action. Don't kill the fire or reject the gift, enjoy the moment!

A3: Recognition can be leveraged as a development tool. Showing the example while honoring someone is a pretty powerful visual aid. I try as much as I can (again, not in a routinish way) to honor the effort and goal achievement of others in front of their team/team members; it gives these other people an opportunity to see how helpful and effective their boss or peers have been. I once sent a note of recognition to someone's loved one stating how great that person had been to me and the project we were handling, detailing the WHAT and explaining the WHY of the recognition. It made the person's family member be more appreciative about that person, especially when there were times this person had to sacrifice a couple of family quality times to get the job done.

I'm sure there are many other thoughts on this subject, and I hope that the above key thoughts have helped you gear your mindset in a whole new direction. Once a mind is upgraded to a higher standard, there is nothing else left but the display of its tangible thoughts - different and effective results! Now, go on and change your Africa!

Stay blessed!

- Aa

Published by Wenze Team
- Courtesy of Alkatek, Inc. A Technology and Management Consulting firm based in Southern California. This article was first published on Wenze.com as a way of helping African Entrepreneurs think different about the economic trends related to Africa and its Diasporas. Learn more about Corporate Africa


About Alkatek, Inc. 

Alkatek, Inc. provides office technologies and services that help companies gain efficiencies and capitalize on opportunities. Our entire organization is focused on the application of practical, innovative business solutions. We tailor solutions to meet our customers' need allowing them to remain focused on what they do best.