Today I'm continuing the "Horrible Bosses" series. Taken from this BuzzFeed article, https://lnkd.in/esfzzMZj , here's the boss scenario I'm looking at today:
"Teacher appreciation week every damn year. It's pathetic and very clear that school leaders and administrators have to come up with something that costs practically nothing, which is how we end up getting stale, prepackaged cupcakes and sodas, or a small bag of popcorn, or small bags of chips. I've been working hard all damn year, and you think I feel appreciated because I got a chocolate cupcake and some Doritos? Like, I'd like some **** supplies for my class, please! How about I get that new whiteboard I wanted since the old one is only screwed to the wall with two screws, and every time someone walks by in the hallway, it rattles like it's going to fall on top of me? How about you buy some screens or curtains for the large windows the district had built into the newest building so that you can see directly into every single classroom as you walk by? (Great during active shooter drills, btw.) NOPE. I get a damn cupcake."
So here's the thing... Appreciation should match effort. Instead of token gestures, leaders should invest in understanding what genuinely makes employees feel valued and provide practical support. People these days have BS meters that can detect anything that's not genuine - it absolutely has to be genuine AND heartfelt. I myself have been known to send along things to my team when they were in need - just because it was a good thing to do and I cared about them. I gave a colleague a set of shoe laces once that brought him to tears (no hyperbole here btw…). Leaders should consider asking employees directly how they would like to be appreciated and respond with meaningful actions.
Appreciation is a strategic tool to create direction, meaning and momentum - don’t waste it with meaningless pats on the back or a hollow “way-to-go”.
