HR Newsletters 2023

PERSPECTIVE

When Was the Last Time You Tooted Someone Else’s Horn?

There are countless reasons to praise others. First and foremost, it’s just the right thing to do. This is a practice that can be performed even when you are not in a position of authority.

The holiday season reminds many to be thankful and to show kindness to others. During this time in particular, we are reminded to show goodwill . What better time than now to begin a life practice of showing appreciation for oth- ers? So, how do we start this process? Ask yourself the following: What went well for me or the agency? And who helped me along the way?

Well, start by identifying the standout achievements of your colleagues, the support you received to complete a diffi- cult project or those who went above and beyond to make your life a little better and easier.

Peer-to-peer recognition is shown to have numerous positive effects for employees and employers. This is an invest- ment in both the employee and the agency alike. The potential return on investment is high and leads to higher levels of employee engagement and performance. Thankless work oftentimes leads to an exact opposite outcome. I’m cer- tain we can agree that this makes sense.

How do we put this into practice?

“At its simplest, an email or even a text message drawing attention to how someone’s words or actions positively im- pacted you can have a large...effect. This is because it doesn’t often happen ...that someone takes time out of their day to say “I see you, you are phenomenal and this is what you mean to me.”” You can personalize your message by specifically stating the work performed and how their action(s) resonated with you. An email, text, or quiet notecard are appropriate means of messaging. You can also give small gifts—such as food items, coffee, and gift cards. At other times, more public recognition in front of peers is a more fitting show of appreciation. Give a shout out in a team meeting, at a conference, or even during a general lunch. You can also go a step further by writing a message to the person’s supervisor expressing thanks for the action performed and/or the help provided This goes a long way and can also aid as an objective evaluation metric during performance evalua- tions.

So if someone, anyone, has done a good deed, acknowledge it. Toot some horns!

By Mary Shirley. https://www.corporatecomplianceinsights.com/toot-someone-elses-horn-recognition/

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