CEO Note to Self

YOUR VOICE IS TOO POWERFUL TO BE SPONTANEOUS WHEN IT COMES TO RECOGNITION

  It's really irritating.  Here you are doing what everyone says is so important ie. recognition and it comes with such possible backlash.   I can remember each time that I recognized someone without naming their support staff or left out a name when mentioning a group  effort.  AND I can remember each time I wasn't named or was given too much credit for something a team had done.   So hard to get it right. 

All in all,  recognition is tricky business.  When powerful  public appreciation comes from you to one person in particular there is usually a price to pay  for the person being recognized..  Very subtle but a kind of kiss of death.  Others begin to look for faults or try to ride the back draft of the person who was so recognized.  The flip side-- of someone  not  being included in recognition-- stings for long after the omission.  Invisibility after long hard work insults top talent and  is the start of bitterness and withdrawal for someone you want to keep strongly on your side.

So to avoid being damned if you do and double damned if you don't:

***For public recognition of a team or group--have a written list vetted by another eye.

     Be spontaneous in your remarks but totally prepped in names of people.

***For a big fat  thank you, do it informally and  privately in the person's office.

     They will not forget that moment.

*** Written individual notes are incredibly powerful--just know you might as well post    

      them on Facebook.  It will be shared and examined.  Use the opportunity well.

***To a large crowd in the name of the company--go for it.

     Let it rip.  When you praise the company everyone is included.

     Just don't go false.  Which is easy to do once you get started.   

     Keep it real

     Praise babble is embarrassing for all.

***And when you mess up, make it right privately and personally.  The person will let         

     others know you have.  No need for public retraction.  But know you owe the person and the   

     next graceful chance you get,  recognize this person for another contribution 

     publicly.  

My most prized recognition came when one of my CEO's and I had just handled a tough situation---sensitive in every way.   He passed me a napkin that said,  "We did it."

It was the "We" and the napkin that did it for me.  You can bet I know where that napkin is.