Share credit enthusiastically.
In Up the Organization, Robert Townsend has a one sentence chapter, "Thanks is the cheapest form of compensation." Have you ever showed excellence on a project or a career and been stiffed for a thank you?
The Heath Brothers in The Power of Moments, inform that decades of employee satisfaction study have a common theme, "full appreciation of work done." Some call lack of appreciation a "recognition gap" but I choose "Cinderella Gap."
A parent accused one of the top basketball coaches in Massachusetts of not getting her child as much attention as previous Braintree High School superstars got.
Which raises the question, how and how often do we show gratitude to our "employees?" The answer is almost universally not enough. 80 percent of managers and 20 percent of employees reported they gave and received enough appreciation.
We didn't have youth basketball this winter. And last season, we didn't have an end of season gathering/breakup dinner because of COVID-19. The players didn't get full recognition for their several years of hard work. I did award a player an educational subscription but never publicized it.
Appreciation elevates us. Recognition informs pride, as our brains release dopamine. When work goes unrecognized, we literally starve for dopamine.
Share an example. What does it take to earn a varsity letter? If you make the team and participate in team activities, why suffer arbitrary quarters played? Yes, we hear the disparagement of "everyone gets a trophy." Inclusiveness has merit. Recognizing Pietra doesn't rob Paola.
In Give and Take Adam Grant writes, "When people know how their work makes a difference, they feel energized to contribute more.” Credit energizes value.
Our communication style impacts our perception.
Recognize players, assistants, parents, boosters, and other contributors. "Thanks is the cheapest form of compensation."
Summary:
- Share credit enthusiastically.
- Show full appreciation for work done.
- Thanks is the cheapest form of compensation.
- A vulnerable, giving style adds value.
- Inclusiveness has merit.
- Credit energizes employees.
Lagniappe. Be a Pest.
Lagniappe 2. Great note and video from Doug Brotherton on game management and a terrific SLOB by the Utah Jazz with a fake handoff backdoor cut.
Interesting late game situation. Utah gets a stop with :34 left. Two timeouts. An immediate timeout would allow them to advance the ball & try for 2-for-1. The ATO was perfect, but they had already burned 10 seconds. Suns executed late & Jazz never had a shot to tie it.#NBA pic.twitter.com/wKAkqKmVeq
— Doug Brotherton (@CoachBrotherton) April 8, 2021