How did day 1 go? What surfaced for you? I'd love to hear. And if you didn't get to it yet, it's not too late—tackle the activity today.
Today's leadership practice is more outward-facing and will directly impact your team in a meaningful way. It's simple, but powerful. Free, yet delivers a massive return. Any guesses?
Today's practice is giving thoughtful, specific positive feedback.
Do your employees (and colleagues) know what you appreciate about them? Can they see how their work impacts the team and organization for the better? Do they believe their unique talents are noticed and valued?
If not, today's activity will be especially meaningful for you and them. And even if you already give praise often, use today's exercise to articulate feedback that is even more specific and thoughtful than the norm.
Here's the challenge:
- Write down one thing you genuinely value in each employee. You may be drawn to acknowledge broad traits like “optimistic attitude” or “strong work ethic.” That's okay, but be sure to note the specific behaviors they demonstrate that correspond with those traits, plus the resulting impact. Anchoring the feedback in tangible behaviors deepens awareness and understanding (and feels more genuine). What gets recognized gets repeated—make sure they understand what exactly you're recognizing.
- Communicate the positive feedback you wrote down to each person TODAY. Do this individually—not in a team setting—so that folks aren't tempted to compare comments. I'm certain you can write a succinct, but meaningful email to each employee in the next 20 minutes. I've included a sample draft below to get you started. Quick phone calls work great too. It may feel awkward at first, but ensuring your people know their value most certainly outweighs the discomfort of a few awkward minutes.
