The Value of Appreciation

While many of us may have just celebrated Valentine's Day, where we intentionally appreciate those we love, I wanted to take a moment to also highlight that there should be a day to appreciate those we work with as well. Now I’m sure Hallmark is already all over that, but is it as popular or celebrated as it should be? Do you know when it is? We should.?

You see, we spend most of our work week with our coworkers. If we think about it, our mornings Monday to Friday are spent getting up and getting ready for work. Let’s say we get up at 5 am (ummm for some) and leave for work by 7:30 am. Some may have hit the gym in that time. We hope your commute is only an hour, but there is a buffer, so you check in at about 9:00 AM. You are logging off at about 5:30 pm, and while we head home and to our families it's 6:30 pm. Just enough time to have dinner and unwind for a little bit and then we're off to bed. Only to start it again the next day. That's five days out of seven days. If we think about it from an hours perspective, if we wake up at 5:00 AM every day - let's just pretend - and we go to bed by 10, that's 17 hours in a day. Of those 17 hours we are spending nine with our colleagues, three commuting, 2 getting ready, maybe 1 in the gym, and 2 with our family. Hmm…. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make this depressing, but that’s a lot.?

What I wanted to do was highlight our work family. We all know that work is an essential part of our lives. We need to earn money. So, when we find a workplace where we have joy coming into work, shouldn't we tell the people around us about it? Even if it isn’t happy every single day, no place is perfect, there are those people that make it better for you.?

I am officially nominating February 15th as Happy Coworkers Day. We have a day to appreciate our significant others, why don't we have a day to appreciate our teams. It's the one day, every year, where we will take a moment to appreciate our coworkers, besties at work, the leaders that inspire, the people to help you be the best version of yourself.?

I wanted to take a moment, lead by example (right? ??) and share some love for my teams. You see, I’m blessed to work with some amazing people. I try to appreciate them on a regular basis, but it can sometimes not be given the priority that it needs. Yes, we do rewards and recognitions, practice a culture of appreciation, but this is one day where we will tell them how much they matter to us. So here it goes:?

1. My Build IT Team – you are my ride or dies (for those of you who don’t know what that means, go revisit the 90’s). I appreciate you for being just that – the team that I count on when it gets tough and have the confidence to know you will show up.?

1. My Marketing Team - I am a proud Mom, with a tear in my eye, when I think about how far you have come, and where you will continue to grow. You make me proud, each and every day.?

1. My newest baby Customer Experience – I’m in awe, and truly grateful, for your passion and commitment to building strong relationships.?

This isn’t to say that we don’t love all of our teams, because we do, but taking a moment to say thank you to those that you work with each and every day, shows them that you actually “SEE” what they do, and value them for it. I didn't mean to get all emotional in this Candid Kam, but a little sappiness is good. After all, it is the month of love, and we as leaders need to love our teams. We need to be like parents, nurturing and guiding them. Smiling with joy and pride when they do well, putting a Band-Aid on the scrapes when we fall, but being there to support them. So please, take a moment, to appreciate your teams. Appreciate that person at work that makes it fun or is your go-to when you have a project that needs to get finished. Maybe it's the person that makes you laugh on your lunch walk. Whoever that may be, taking a moment today to appreciate the value they bring to you will make them and you a little happier. Happy Coworkers Day – we love you!?

Source: https://itbd.net/resources/candid-kam/the-value-of-appreciation/