7 Ways to Recognize People

When was the last time you "caught someone doing something great" and let them know about it? People are starved for attention, for affection, for recognition. What you reward, you get more of.

For me, there is true joy in letting people know you recognize and appreciate the great things they've done.

There are a lot of ways to do so, here are 7...

1. Give them a simple thank you.
   This is especially powerful if you can do it very publicly in front of a lot of people.
2. Send them a handwritten note.
   In todays frenetic techno-world of email, faxes, conference calls, Instant Messenging, when was the last time someone invested their precious time in hand-writing you a congratulatory or thank you note? When was the last time you did that for someone else?
3. Present them an Outstanding Member Pin
   Toastmasters sells them through the on-line store.
4. Give them a certificate of appreciation
   You can make your own or buy them from the Toastmasters on-line store.
5. Give them a nice gift.
   I like to give quote books from Jim Rohn, Brian Tracy, Dennis Waitley, and Zig Ziglar. I buy them
   from Jim Rohn's website. They usually sell for about $1 each but 1-2 times per year Jim sells them for about 60 cents each.
6. Give them a hug while telling them how much you appreciate them.
7. Fabricate an award to give them.
   I've heard of a club in North Texas that hot-glued a sparkplug to a small block of wood. Every week they present it as the "SparkPlug Award" to the member that exhibited the most energy in that week's meeting. It's a travelling trophy, meaning that member brings it back the next week so it can be awarded again.

Do they appreciate it? Does it help them?

Years ago I attended a Toastmasters Leadership Institute planned by DeDe Rhodes. Outwardly the program was well organized and running smoothly. Much of that was due to DeDe's frenetic fire-fighting behind the scenes. By mid-day DeDe looked frazzled, beat down, worn out, upset, like she was "ready to go home and kick the dog".

I walked up to her, put my arm around her, and said:

DeDe, I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate today's Toastmasters Leadership Institute. The sessions have been great, well run, well organized. I've been learning a lot and thoroughly enjoying myself. I wanted you to know I think you've done an absolutely oustanding job so I want to give you this outstanding member pin.

We hugged and for the rest of that day she wore that pin with a beaming ear-to-ear smile, she had a powerful prideful strut in her walk. All it cost me was a few dollars for the pin and a few moments of my time. But, to see the joy it brought to her, to see the turnaround in her attitude and physiology, made it a priceless investment that paid me countless dividends of joyful feelings!

Do you think that didn't matter? A few years later, DeDe walked up to me and said: "I don't know if you remember, a few years go you gave me a pin. That meant so much to me, I wanted to return the favor". DeDe presented me with a "Star Achiever" pin and a hug. Totally unexpected! What goes around comes around.

My "ground rules":

• The praise must have been earned -- the deed(s) must have been out of the ordinary
• The praise must be specific -- dealing with what that person did, why that was outstanding
• The praise must be sincere and heart felt
• If at all possible, do it very publicly so others can join the "praise-party"
• But, if publicly isn't possible, do it anyway. You and the recipient will appreciate it

What have you done lately to show someone you appreciate the good thing(s) they've achieved? What do you do to show appreciation to those you catch "doing good"?