How can leaders engender respect, empathy, and appreciation in the culture of their businesses? According to Sarah McVanel, recognizing greatness starts with leaders who are willing to make intentional changes when it comes to noticing and showing appreciation for those around them. The result? A workplace culture with recognition at the forefront and a staff who won’t look elsewhere for purposeful employment.
GUEST AT A GLANCE
Sarah McVanel is a recognition expert, speaker, coach, and author of Forever Recognize Others’ Greatness: Solution-Focused Strategies for Satisfied Staff, High-Performing Teams, and Healthy Bottom Lines. She is passionate about helping businesses build “healthy and recognition-rich” teams.
A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST
🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR
🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws
📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”
THE “WHY”
We’ve all been dreading the Great Resignation, but the truth is that it’s already arrived. According to Sarah McVanel, people are leaving their jobs in droves. There’s been a massive influx of people retraining, switching industries, switching roles, and “people are sometimes willing to have less of a prestigious career or role in order to have work and life wellbeing.” As a result, businesses have found themselves competing with the “greener grass” at other companies.
If people see that a job change can potentially “feed their souls” while feeding their bank accounts, then you’ve got a perfect storm for people looking elsewhere. And Sarah says that “sometimes the grass is actually greener on the other side of the street.” So, what does that mean for a business that is losing people left and right? Well, according to Sarah McVanel, it starts with recognition.
PODCAST EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Retaining Good People
“And when we give a reason for people to care — when we give validation and verification that they matter, that we care about them — they’re more likely to stay. […] The great thing about human behavior is that we’re actually not that confusing. So yes, one of the key ways that people can retain great people is that those people feel so needed and valued and seen and heard that they don’t even doubt that they’re making a difference.”
It’s About the Boss
“In study after study, the number one reason people say that they leave a role is their direct supervisor. So leaders need to reinforce that culture where people feel that even though we’re not physically together or even though the type of work we do has changed dramatically, my leader is still seeing it and my peers are able to acknowledge it so that my leader can see it as well.”
What We Deserve
“Recognizing greatness is being able to see people’s skills, talents, and passions, even when they can’t see them themselves. It is that unwavering belief that every single one of us has greatness that deserves to be acknowledged — that I can actually see it, and that you can see it too.”
An Ecosystem of Appreciation
“Our biggest untapped opportunity is to make recognition. It isn’t just the manager’s responsibility or the owner’s responsibility. We recognize our customers, our suppliers, and our partners. We create this ecosystem of appreciation that motivates people to do well, to give their best work, to give you the best rates, to come back and keep using your services. It actually creates this true culture of abundance — real dollars and cents value.”
It’s About People
“It doesn’t actually have to be super complicated. […] I believe it’s simply that you need to care about your people. You need to find ways to acknowledge people across the entire employee experience journey, and you need to remind everybody that the heart of our business and the success of our business is in people because no matter what business you’re in, you cannot do without great people.”
It’s the Small Things
“Let’s not define recognition through these really grand gestures. […] Being a nice human, like writing kudos on somebody’s LinkedIn board or writing a little note or sending somebody a text. The more we do this in our personal life and our professional life, the more it just becomes so easy and intuitive.”
Acknowledge What You Want to See
“When you feel valued, when I feel valued, then we’re more likely to live up to those expectations. You had mentioned the underperformers, and we often think, ‘Well, if I’m acknowledging the people underperforming, does it reinforce underperformance?’ And what I like to suggest is we need to acknowledge the things we want to see more of.
And for your underperformers, look for those gems. It’s not that you don’t have performance conversations. That’s not it at all. But imagine how much more receptive that person is to your performance advice when they believe that you want them to do well.”
LEARN MORE
Connect with Sarah McVanel on social media or find some free resources at her website, greatnessmagnified.com. Join and advance the “Recognition Movement” by sharing these resources with everyone you know.