“There are two things people want more than sex and money- recognition and praise.” Mary Kay Ash, founder, Mary Kay Inc. Money matters but money without respect is dissatisfying.
Always affirm worth
even if you can’t reward financially.
Failure in one area may overshadow success in another. When it does, you withhold recognition and praise where it’s due.
Personally:
I believe we go further by focusing on strengths but I tend to focus on my weaknesses. It’s a constant battle. When someone comes to “help” me with a shortcoming I smile and listen but the truth is I’ve already thought of that one and a dozen more.
The bad tends to overshadow the good; failure tends to overshadow success.
Organizationally:
Passion to improve may magnify shortcomings and failures. Change begins with dissatisfaction. Discontent is part of passion for excellence. But, organizations grow gloomy apart from large doses of recognition and praise.
More criticism than praise results in depressed environments.
Don’t burry your head in the sand and pretend everything’s ok. Deal with failures and shortcomings. But, failure in one area isn’t reason to withhold praise for success in another.
Celebration works better than complaint.
Leaders create dark, negative environments by criticizing failure more than recognizing success. Things could always be improved. Replace discontent with recognition and praise, just for today.
When failures obscure successes, darkness prevails.
How do leaders fall into the negativity trap?
How can leaders create positive energy?
