| Just so there is absolutely no doubt in any one's | | | | reasonable prices and a clean environment. What |
| mind, I'm going to start this article by saying: | | | | differentiates you from your competitors is the |
| Recognize, recognize, recognize and then | | | | relationship of you, your team and your |
| recognize MORE! | | | | customers. |
| Recognition is THE single most important behavior, | | | | I can't tell you how many times I've walked |
| tool, or factor that, differentiates people in their | | | | through a grocery supermarket and watched |
| interactions with other people. You'll notice I didn't | | | | team members busily stocking shelves, mopping |
| say "Leaders" or "managers". That's because | | | | floors and packing groceries. Dozens of |
| every single person on the planet should be | | | | customers walk by these people every hours, |
| practicing recognition every day! Don't get me | | | | and every one of them is a missed opportunity |
| wrong - If you are a leader or manager, then you | | | | for "recognition", - building loyalty to your business, |
| have a direct obligation to understand recognition | | | | products and increasing retention of your |
| and to practice it consistently. | | | | customer. I've even watched "Senor Managers" |
| To Recognize: to acknowledge or take notice, to | | | | gathered around some specific product discussing |
| express gratitude or obligation for, to | | | | pros and cons with suppliers, while all the time, |
| acknowledge with a show of appreciation. | | | | "CUSTOMERS" pass by completely unnoticed. Now |
| Here's where most people get off track. They | | | | that's an example team members should never |
| believe (wrongly) that recognition or | | | | see! What is the real purpose of team member at |
| acknowledgment of some one must be tied to | | | | all levels of your organization? - stocking shelves |
| something that person did that was unique, | | | | or building relationship with customers? The |
| special, or better than their usually performance . | | | | answer to this question defines success or failure |
| POPPYCOCK! ... In other words, complete | | | | of your organization or business in the real world. |
| nonsense. I have some other descriptive terms, | | | | It doesn't matter whether you're selling bread, |
| but by my now, I'm hoping the message is sinking | | | | milk and eggs, banking services or you want to |
| through. | | | | be largest communications company in Canada. It |
| Recognition has everything to do with | | | | all starts with recognition. |
| performance. Most of us are just regular people | | | | Of course it begins with leadership. If leaders |
| trying to get through life. We work, we have kids, | | | | recognize team members, and set expectations |
| mortgages, bills, worries, etc. In the workplace, | | | | for them to do the same with customers, then |
| the majority of us go unnoticed and | | | | powerful things happen. For leaders you need to |
| unappreciated. The people beside us have their | | | | cultivate the 2 most important words in the world |
| own problem and the Boss!! ...well he/she is always | | | | for effective leadership. They are: "thank you". - |
| too busy to see us. Most of us just carry on with | | | | Thank you for cleaning that spill. Thank you for |
| our heads bowed until we run into someone who | | | | bringing me that message, thank you for BEING |
| takes an interest. If it's our boss, and they're | | | | HERE. |
| sincere and consistent, amazing things can happen. | | | | It all really simple. All you need to do is start off |
| I've already mentioned in previous articles how | | | | with a smile, a simple "hello" or "good morning". |
| little "Rewards" actually impacts motivation. On the | | | | Eventually you could throw in a "hows the |
| other hand, recognition has the potential to deliver | | | | family?" or "Thanks for shopping at our store". |
| incredible shifts in people's attitude and | | | | Be consistent. Do it ALL the time. |
| performance. | | | | If you're in a larger organization and you support |
| It's not just about the people you work with or | | | | internal departments, consider everyone of those |
| those that you manage or lead. Every person in | | | | fellow team members to be YOUR customer. In |
| an organization or business needs to understand | | | | the end, it filters down to the customer who |
| that recognition is the most important tool they | | | | actually pays your organization or business for |
| have with their clients and customers. Practice it | | | | product or service. |
| everywhere, with everyone! Start with your | | | | Here's your challenge this week. I want you to |
| clients and customers, then practice it with your | | | | set yourself an objective to deliberately say "Hi, |
| peers and team members. Every interaction with | | | | how are you?" to 6 different people each day for |
| a person is either a recognition event or a missed | | | | the next week that you have never talked to |
| opportunity in building relationship and loyalty with | | | | before. Put a Post It on your computer, or a |
| that person. | | | | reminder in your email software, or write it on |
| Here's how it works. Let's say you work in a | | | | the top of your hand. You CAN do it! If you're in |
| grocery store. You sell food, don't you? Nope! .. | | | | a leadership position, get out there and start |
| you'd don't! What you really sell is service and | | | | talking to both your team and your customers. |
| relationship. It starts with quality products, | | | | Let me know how it goes. |