| > | | | | work." And have a conversation that doesn't |
| Career expert Madisen Harper explains how | | | | revolve solely around work. |
| manners at work and authentically acknowledging | | | | 3. Care about the person, not just their work. |
| others are attributes of an effective manager. | | | | One of my colleagues was going in for dental |
| One of the most powerful attributes of an | | | | surgery. I wasn't in the office the day before her |
| effective manager is not something often taught | | | | appointment so I sent her a text message to tell |
| in management courses. | | | | her I was thinking about her and wish her good |
| It's the ability to genuinely recognize and | | | | luck. Well you would have thought I'd given her a |
| acknowledge team members for a job well done. | | | | million bucks. She was so chuffed that I'd not only |
| You may be thinking, "Of course you can learn | | | | remembered, but had also taken the time to send |
| that, I saw a whole book on '1001 ways to | | | | a message. |
| reward and recognize your team'". And you're | | | | I'm not saying to delve into their private lives but |
| absolutely right, but the keyword I'm focusing on | | | | if they've been sick, ask if they're better now; if |
| is 'genuinely'. | | | | it's their birthday wish them many happy returns |
| Have you ever had someone say, "Sorry" and | | | | and ask how they're celebrating; if they returned |
| they may as well not have bothered because it | | | | from vacation, ask how it was. |
| was the most inauthentic apology you ever | | | | 4. Give genuine compliments from time to time. |
| heard? In fact it wasn't an apology at all; it was | | | | David was a manager his team adored and it was |
| just a word without any feeling to support its | | | | easy to figure out why. He authentically |
| meaning. | | | | acknowledged his colleagues constantly. He'd send |
| Authenticity can't be taught, it's a personal | | | | an email, trumpet your horn to others and say it |
| attribute that comes from within. But even if | | | | to your face. It made people absolutely glow. |
| you're on the 'cold fish' side there are certain | | | | No need to gush, but a simple acknowledgment |
| things you can do that make a difference and | | | | should suffice, "Marcia, that presentation you did |
| most actions don't cost a cent! | | | | was absolutely fantastic. You really excited the |
| ** 5 Ways to Acknowledge Your Team Members | | | | team and I can't wait to put the new system in |
| ** | | | | place. I've got so many ideas on how I can finally |
| 1. Be a promoter. If your team, or someone in it, | | | | get the information I need." |
| has done a great job, let others know about it. If | | | | 5. Throw a "Please" and "Thank you" their way. |
| there is a company newsletter use it to | | | | I'm appalled at how many people have forgotten |
| showcase their accomplishments. This can be | | | | their manners. I was at the bakery and the |
| work related or personal. Bill had an employee | | | | customer next to me said, "Give me two loaves |
| who made it to the over-50 ice skating finals; he | | | | of bread." I felt like screaming, "PLEASE!" |
| asked for a picture of her on the ice and | | | | My memory floated back to childhood with the |
| commended her in the next newsletter. | | | | rhyme, "Gimme, gimme never gets, don't you |
| 2. Spend $15 and buy a cake. I think we need | | | | know your manners yet?" |
| more celebrations in our lives. We spend so much | | | | It's not hard to be decent. |
| time doing, doing, doing that we need to take a | | | | And remember, if you want your words to have |
| breath and acknowledge what we've done! Have | | | | impact, say them with heart. |
| a morning tea to say, "Thanks for your hard | | | | |