Doing Business by the Good Book Ch 47

Praise and Recognition

• Recognition is a strong motivator; people crave it. Examples include soldiers seeking medals, athletes pursuing Olympic medals, and actors seeking applause.

• Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, highlighted the importance of recognition through awards like the pink Cadillac.

• Personal experiences demonstrate the powerful impact of praise. For instance, receiving an engraved ice bucket was a significant moment.

• Family praise, like that from a mother or wife, played a key role in personal growth and decisions, including pursuing education and starting a business.

• Recognition builds confidence and supports people. Supporting decisions, such as a spouse leaving their job to be a stay-at-home parent, is a form of recognition.

Biblical and Spiritual Context

• The Bible (Proverbs 3:27) emphasizes the importance of giving praise when possible.

• God's praise deserves recognition above all. Humans should give praise to God, recognizing His role as the source of blessings.

• God rewards unwavering love and obedience, even to the thousandth generation.

• God resides within each person; praising others is a tribute to God; prioritizing others over oneself is an essential component of their mission.

• True praise comes from understanding that God lives within us through selfless love and respect of others.

Effective Praise & Recognition in Business

• Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, exemplified sincere and effective recognition methods through personal interaction—blending with employees.

• Contrastingly, approaches without genuine concern, like a chairman's limousine visit, can damage relationships and motivation.

• Praise and recognition are not one-off events; they should be an everyday practice for great leaders.

• Great leaders interact with and praise all levels of employees, not just high-level executives.

• Appreciating everyone's contributions builds morale and boosts dedication.

• Leading by example with sincere praise and acknowledgement is essential among all employees. Real and heartfelt praise is important for every employee, regardless of their position.

Conclusion

• The author emphasizes the importance of sincere praise and recognition to motivate others. Insincere approaches can cause resentment instead.

• Everyday acknowledgment of workers' hard work, like the author's interactions with loading dock workers, is an illustration of valuing all contributions.