| When I was sales manager I sought ways to | | | | to do. |
| boost morale and applaud the small things my | | | | Be prolific. Most nights before I left for home, |
| sales people were doing right. There were also | | | | when the workplace was quiet and cubicles were |
| times when I wanted to successfully | | | | tidied up for the next day's challenge, I'd walk |
| communicate a message of encouragement | | | | through the office armed with my marker and a |
| without engaging in a conversation. | | | | pad of colorful sticky notes. Recalling the day in |
| Big achievements were easy to acknowledge and | | | | my mind as I stopped by each consultant's desk |
| celebrate but the small things were a bit more | | | | triggered the highlights and low points that might |
| challenging to recognize without sounding trite. | | | | warrant a sticky note mention. Abundant note |
| Celebratory cakes and flowers were simple | | | | giving does not mean routinely giving everyone a |
| compared to finding the right words to recognize | | | | daily mini-memo. This is not a tee-ball game where |
| successful handling of an irate customer or | | | | kids receive a trophy just for showing up--no |
| convey a "this too shall pass" sentiment. | | | | praise for that in my book. The surprise element |
| In today's economic conditions, where already | | | | adds meaning so mix it up. |
| stressed workers are taking on more tasks with | | | | When I first began this practice I was unsure of |
| little appreciation, the proverbial "pat-on-the-back" | | | | how it was going to be received. I half-expected |
| goes a long way. A pad of sticky notes became | | | | a glance, a grin and a toss in the circular file. But a |
| my best "I appreciate you" communication tool | | | | funny thing began to happen. Notes began |
| for morale boosting. | | | | showing up on cubicle walls lined up like crayons in |
| Here are 3 ways I used sticky notes to create a | | | | a fresh box or displayed with abandon on cabinet |
| culture of gratitude. | | | | doors for the entire world to see. |
| Be specific. Jotting "great job handling Mrs. J.'s | | | | Unknowingly I had created merit badges for |
| hesitation" tells the note receiver you're paying | | | | adults. |
| attention. A note that says "let today go" can | | | | Morale boosting as just another task on a sales |
| make the difference between a productive day | | | | manager's to-do list can foster more harm than |
| and a day lost to low self-confidence. | | | | good if performed without honesty or genuine |
| Be graphic. Adults are just kids in big bodies so | | | | enthusiasm. Sticky note gratitude practiced with |
| appeal to the child in them. Liberal use of | | | | integrity lifts spirits of the both the giver and |
| exclamation points, stars and smiley faces puts a | | | | receiver. Try it. |
| grin on everyone's face. Often that's all I needed | | | | |