No 1.  Appreciation

I listed the 7 aspects in an earlier blog entry and now I'll talk about the first of them, Appreciation.  Apparently it's one of the primary things a workers looks for in order to be happy at work.  Sounds simple, easy even.  All a manager needs to do is show a little appreciation.  How much does that cost I wonder???  Hmmm.  Not much.  In fact, NOTHING AT ALL. 

"What do you mean?" I hear you ask. 

Appreciation is as simple as a pat on the back.  Some feedback about a job well done or in recognition of working back or completing a difficult (or unpleasant) task.  Or even for just completing a task.   Like children the trick to feedback is not telling them everything they do wrong but catching them doing the right things and telling them that.  Try it for yourself.

I ran an interesting exercise in a workshop recently where participants had to give each other positive feedback.  Apparently we Australians are pretty uncomfortable both giving and recieving positive feedback.  Is it that uncommon that it makes us uncomfortable?  I know there's a culture pressure not to 'blow your own trumpet' and maybe it's even the 'tall poppy syndrome' in another guise.  Whatever the reason it's time to get over it.  I know some simple praise goes a long way to making me feel better about myself, my work and my contributions.  What about you? 

Here's the drill.  Pay it forward.  Go out there and give as much positive (genuine) feedback as you can.  You'll feel better for having done it and who know's, hopefully it will come full circle and someone will praise you. 

I'll start.  Thank you for having the courage and the curiosity to think about how you can make your work more meaningful and rewarding by visiting this blog.  You let me know that what I do has value.  Thanks.