Today it’s D’s birthday and I thought it fitting to write a few lines around the importance to celebrate and the type of work environment I want to create.
I’m a great believer in finding the little things in life that brightens up our days and bring smiles to people’s faces. It doesn’t matter what it is. It can be a coffee break or ‘fika’ as we call it in Sweden (I’ve written about the benefit of fika in the workplace before).
There are other occasions when it’s a special day for someone, or an achievement has been accomplished by the team, individuals or the company as a whole. We should celebrate those, but more importantly, we should facilitate a work environment where we are encouraged to share when we achieve something good, and that this is acknowledged in one way or another.
The Jante law
We live in a society where it’s not really seen to be ok to say that you’ve done something good, or great for that matter. Even worse. It’s almost as we have to excuse ourselves if we have achieved something whereas we actually should be proud and say “Isn’t it great!”. There are of course ways and then there are ways in which this is told to the world where the latter is plain annoying and just done to get attention. That is completely different and not what I mean when I say that we should be more proud of ourselves and share it.
Acknowledging & complimenting
In our average workday, or at least work week, there are milestones that are accomplished. Individuals who crack something they’ve worked on for a long time. A new idea or execution that everyone is really pleased with, or a meeting that went well. Perhaps someone who’s presented for the first time.
All of these are achievements that should be acknowledged or even celebrated. It’s nothing that should be let to pass by without a mention. And it’s certainly not something an employee should restrain from sharing, if they’re proud of their achievement.
I haven’t shouted about it but I’m pretty proud of having had an article published in .net Magazine. There are lots of people who have had hands full of articles published but I haven’t so for me it’s a big thing. It’s not to say it couldn’t be better (see – I did it! I excused it), but the fact in itself that it has been published is something I’m really pleased about. The other night I got a text from a dear friend back in Stockholm who’d opened the magazine, read my article, liked it and she wrote to tell me how proud she was to be my friend. That really made me happy.
When it comes to achievements the comparison shouldn’t always be with other people but with the person him/herself. That’s who we’re competing with and though it may not be a big thing for someone else, what X have just accomplished might be really big to him or her and if so, a congratulations is in order. It might even make their day, just like my friend’s text made mine.
The office environment I believe in
The office environment and culture I want to foster in the future is the kind where people aren’t afraid of sharing their good news with their team. Rather it’s encouraged and when these good news are shared an acknowledgement is made. It can be drinks or dinner for the bigger things, cake and a card on birthdays, or something like this little machine that spits out a sweet for every new Twitter follower.
Rewards and acknowledgement are so powerful and whatever the occassion small or big, celebrate when something good happens. Or, for that matter, if a bad thing happens bring along something that will make it just that little bit better. Perhaps give people a break, some added motivation to keep going. And encourage other to share their achievements. Weave it into the office culture and your team will grow. Your workplace will be a happier one and as a result better work will come out of it. The loyalty to the company will increase and it will help you attract new talent.
Happy birthday dear D and everyone else whose special day it is.
Tomorrow – Day 027 | The travelling office
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/origami_potato/4872155350/in/photostream/
