Awards and Words of Encouragement

Last weekend I attended the JCI UK national awards ceremony on board HMS President on the Thames. I was delighted to see my local chamber, JCI Cambridge, win 5 national awards and also surprised to walk away with one myself for my role in mentoring JCI Cambridge over the past year.

Here's me going up to receive my award. What I love about this photo is the picture of Simon Bucknall who is standing up in the background and the delight that's showing on his face. It's his smile of encouragement I appreciate, as well as his words of congratulations.

When did you last stand up and recognise someone for their efforts?
Have you acknowledged your own success recently?
What words of encouragement could you give?

It's not about winning an award, it's about recognition of effort, however that comes into being.

Too often in business it is the wrong behaviour that is picked up and corrected, the slip ups that are marked down on the performance appraisal and the errors that get noticed. While good behaviour, great performance and doing things right sometimes passes people by.

Start to look out for the good things you do (and that are done by others if you have line-management responsibilities). Acknowledge them. Give yourself (or others) credit for achievements and successes, however small.

And keep the words of encouragement going as everyone needs a confidence boost now and then.

Kate

ps I was subsequently interviewed for JCI UK's blog, here's the post: JCI UK blog