Why Every Day Should Be Leaders Appreciation Day

Dear Reader,

Welcome to this week's edition of "Elevations."?

Finding joy and happiness—even in your success—is an ongoing journey of developing and refining soft skills. It's not surprising that so many people who are outwardly successful are miserable. These skills emerge from our values and the habits of thinking that shape our view of the world and of ourselves. The concept of emotional intelligence speaks to the skills that contribute to the kind of attitude that makes people both successful and joyful.

All this is especially true of leaders. I see it every day in my work. Business is always fraught with reasons to worry and become angry or frustrated. But there are also moments of overwhelming joy, or MoJo, that emerge through the things we devote our energies to and accomplish.

I see that those who actively seek opportunities to experience and embrace genuine gratitude tend to develop the soft skills that pave the way for success. They comprehend that their organizations contribute to their success, not the other way around.

The best way to help people learn to create and live in a state of gratitude is to encourage them to express their appreciation to others. Simple acknowledgment can be a tremendous act of kindness, and learning to listen more and better is the simplest way to acknowledge people.

Try making every day Leaders Appreciation Day by discovering how in today's essay below.

As always, I wish you a great week ahead!

-PRL

Why Every Day Should Be Leaders Appreciation Day

There is an unofficial holiday for every day of the year. A simple Google search reveals that today is “Beach Party Day” and August 11th is “Play in the Sand Day.” Most are silly, and others are marketing gimmicks like National Frozen Yoghurt Day intended to promote consumer interest. The big ones are Mother's and Father's Day – and I recall asking my mother why there was no Son’s or Daughter’s Day; she told me every day was Children’s Day. It turns out that Facebook has now added those to the list. ?

I most appreciate those days that recognize the people who make a difference every day and deserve our recognition: teachers, nurses, first responders, and volunteers who care for and look out for others.

Beyond the commercial work of the appreciation industry that produces tee-shirts, mugs, and greeting cards, the truly important thing is that appreciation makes us better human beings.

Showing appreciation displays our humanity through our expressions of warmth and respect for the dignity of those who selflessly give of themselves to benefit others. It also encourages more people to choose to do so. Recognizing accomplishments cultivates joy and is contagious. Appreciation is a force multiplier.

What if we added “Leaders Appreciation Day” to the list of unofficial holidays? The purpose would be to foster a culture of appreciation and respect, not to appreciate leaders but to encourage them to appreciate those they serve. Many already do it as a habit, always expressing genuine gratitude for the good they see in the world and the people who contribute to it.?

Showing appreciation isn’t complicated, but it sometimes gets murky for leaders. When and how to show appreciation must align with your values and purpose. For a leader, that purpose must address the ultimate needs of the organization beyond the needs of individuals. You can appreciate that someone underperforming believes and perhaps is doing their best. Still, you cannot tolerate an individual’s poor performance when it impacts the overall performance of a company. You must be able to make tough decisions – even when they may seem unkind.

You must also be mindful of how you express appreciation. Praising and rewarding people for doing what they are tasked with and paid for might amount to promoting mediocrity. Rewarding people for going above and beyond, furthering their abilities, and expanding their capacity demonstrates respect for the individual and the organization, while rewarding lackluster performance disrespects those who strive to be exceptional.

In most cases, the joy people experience is derived from the satisfaction of knowing they are accomplishing something valuable is the reward they need. Effective leaders recognize that their role is to serve and facilitate the accomplishments of others. Identifying potential and helping people achieve that, even if it requires pushing them, multiplies performance and cultivates repeated moments of joy. There is no better way to show people they are genuinely appreciated than to offer them opportunities to find and spread joy through the meaningful things they accomplish.

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You can access over 150 other pieces on business leadership and related topics at the ALPS BLOG atALPSLeadership.com.

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