They say when the right idea comes, not even the strongest armies would be able to defeat it. Well, that certainly carries a lot of meaning in the business world too. One portable device introduced on the 9th of January, 2007 changed the world. We all know that event to be Steve Jobs and his iPhone. It’s hard to imagine how a visionary who wasn’t much of an electronics guy would be able to wipe out with finality the leading cellphone player at that time: Nokia. And the rest is history.
Today, Apple sits at the top of the smartphone market. And though, it’s been over a decade since the first iPhone iteration was launched, the success it generated has rippled to this very day. So much, the company itself has grown by leaps and bounds because of the iPhone. Such a successful launch has been celebrated by Apple’s hierarchy, from top to bottom. It’s telling you that celebrating success does have a ripple effect that a company must not ignore.
You may not see the merits of celebrating success as a business leader. However, if your devotion to success is total, it’s important that you take a closer look at why. Doing so may not get your brand to be as big as Apple’s but it sure can put it within a close distance. Here’s why:
War on Talent
Chances are, we’re too caught up in the daily grind we forget there are more important things than doing our everyday tasks. Yes, such a myopic approach can surely be taxing though. Indeed, focusing on what’s on your table and making sure production is high is paramount. But forgetting about key aspects of your company is counterintuitive. It can mean losing key personnel over time.
You may feel like it’s a waste of time but celebrating a company milestone even if it’s a personal one can be infectious. It shows you care about your people. When a sales manager pop champagne to celebrate a million-dollar sale of an associate it tells everyone on board that success is important. And that the person who made it all happen deserves to be recognized.
The long-term view here is your company culture. When your employees feel they are valued, their tendency to look for work elsewhere diminishes. Thus, getting into celebration mode when a major sales quota has been reached is not a waste of time. It’s actually ensuring more successes ahead.
In this regard, throwing a party to celebrate a company’s success should be worth your while. Just make sure things run smoothly to make the most of the event. For one, getting the place in order by calling event and party rentals should be timely to provide quality set-up (e.g., tables, chairs, party supplies). Better yet, have someone handle it so the celebration leaves a sweet taste in everyone’s mouth.
Small Gestures
You don’t need to spend so much to recognize people’s efforts. But you need to be careful here. A 2016 survey indicated that the majority of American workers feel underappreciated. Only one in every three employees in the Land of the Brave feels they’re being recognized by their team leaders and higher-ups. What’s more, the survey found out that more than anything, it’s not money that people wanted but being recognized.
So that should be your cue. It doesn’t have to be pricey. You can celebrate a team’s success by having drinks after work or eating lunch together (with some company perks). Don’t underestimate the power of small gestures in this regard. As a business leader and someone people look up to, you should know that leaving a note or a small token of appreciation can go a long way to make someone part of your team appreciated.
It’s Who You Are
There’s a tendency to put yourself in the wrong perspective when it comes to recognition. Take note that people have different intrinsic needs to be satisfied. One thing’s certain, however. You can influence people from above. A good example here is how Henry Ford learned a lot from his mentor-employer Thomas Alva Edison. Both men, of course, would change the history of America but truth be told it’s hard to dissociate one from the other.
It’s important therefore that you realize that employee recognition has its nuances too. For instance, bear in mind that appreciation and recognition are two different things.
Recognition is performance-based. It is about receiving positive reinforcement when an employee has done well. In this regard, you can count a bonus, a raise, or an award as employee recognition. But appreciation is a totally different animal. It’s appreciating an employee regardless of their achievement. Thus, recognition is about the things that you do to recognize success. On the other hand, appreciation is deeper. It’s about who they truly are.