Do you think you should acknowledge people for just doing their jobs; for just doing what they’re supposed to?  Many people would say no, of course not. They’re doing the absolute minimum required and it’s only service or results over and above the norm that should be acknowledged or rewarded.
If you think this way I ask you to reconsider. Why?
Many people don’t feel that they make a difference
First, because many people don’t feel that they make a difference, they don’t feel that what they do matters, and if you look closely you may find people who feel this way surround you.
These people go through the motions at work in order to get a paycheck. They do the motions to keep their job, to have job and financial security, and their movements are completely disconnected with the valuable service they provide to others.  Not unlike a mouse pushing a lever to get food.
I witnessed this the other day while watching a customer service rep at a mobile phone store treat a customer with disdain. The customer clearly was a bother to her, and she seemed to have no perspective on the value of her service to the customer and how her doing her job well would allow someone to stay in contact with their friends, family and coworkers as well as access information and become more productive. The idea that her knowledge and willingness to help could make a difference for her customer, and employer seemed quite foreign to her.
No one has to help you – really
Second, very few people really have to do what they do. As Joe Clark – played by Morgan Freeman in the movie Lean on Me – said while locked up in the town jail for refusing to follow the rules, “The only thing I have to do is stay black and die!”
We all have our responsibilities, duties, obligations and jobs. People expect us to be responsible, honor our commitments, fulfill our duties and do our jobs, and we expect others to do the same. Yet our expectations regarding what other people should be doing are so great that we forget that everyone has a choice and can choose to do other than what we expect. Everyone serving or interacting with you is ultimately choosing to do so. No one has to help you; not the fireman, policeman, lawyer, plumber or photographer at the licensing office. Every act of service is an act of choice, even when it is not realized.
Fact is, many people don’t realize that they have a choice and so give their service or do their work begrudgingly. Then there are those who do get that doing their job, and doing their job well is a choice, and they give their service willingly. They’re easy to spot; they remain competent at their jobs despite constant change and always serve with a smile. Make sure you acknowledge these ones especially.
Two HUGE benefits of acknowledging people for “just” doing their jobs
In short, acknowledging people for “just” doing their jobs has two great benefits:
- They are reminded, or maybe get to see for the first time that their work does matter, that the results of their actions are helping someone else take care of a problem, save time, energy and money, fulfill on obligations, feel better, feel safe, become more knowledgeable etc.
- They are reminded that they have a choice in what they do and that we appreciate that they choose to be of service to us: their employer, customer, colleague, supplier etc.
Every time you see a President, or Prime Minister visiting their troops overseas, it is this acknowledgment theme that is being practiced. Acknowledging people for doing their jobs lets them know that what they do makes a difference in our lives and we appreciate it.
People essentially want to feel like their work is important and appreciated and giving people acknowledgments for doing their jobs is your best bet at having a highly motivated staff that will stay with you for the long run, instead of going somewhere else where the pay is slightly better or where they know they will have the appreciation they did not have with you.
What will you do?
Take on a practice of acknowledging your staff, colleagues or teammates for doing their jobs, for coming to work everyday, for showing up. Â They make a difference. Â Let them know it, and keep reminding them of it. Â Why dontcha?
