Praise is for Kids

Today I became a bit frustrated at work- nothing specific happened so much as I was just super busy. Recently, and truly for the first time in my career, I realized there are more tasks on my to - do list than the amount of time within my work week to do them. As such, I initially thought I wasn't being proactive enough or thought maybe I wasn't being effective with my time. My initial solution was to blur boundaries so I took work home with me and skipped lunch with peers for lunch at my desk.

This evening as I was driving to a meeting; I was running late because of work and running even later because Atlanta traffic is stupid especially in the rain and darkness. So again I became frustrated that I was late and still had work to do; I felt like the cost outweighed the benefit. I called my mom because she tends to bring me back to center and keep me on track for the bigger lesson; today she just kept me motivated to just attend the meeting late; she reminded me that life happens and validated that traffic was stupid and I was surely not the only person that was going to arrive late. Of course- she was right.  What she didn't tell me was that because I was late I would have to sit in the very front, miss the light refreshments (chicken nuggets from chick-fil-a), and be clueless with the activity that I had walked in on; but I waited and regrouped and refocused.

As that specific activity concluded and discussion began a lady in the back commented: " I noticed recently I wasn't invited to a work meeting because it was not about my project, but after the meeting I was debriefed and provided an additional deliverable,from that project. She stated she looked to her coworker who sat nearby and was assigned to the very project she just received as an addition, and realized that coworker didn't have anything in addition. I noticed then, that getting more work meant i was doing my work right."

As she spoke I realized the reason I needed to attend this meeting, it was to hear this comment and be taught a lesson: praise is for kids. Parents use praise to shape their children. Teachers and professors use praise to encourage correct responses. Peers at work give praise to keep each other motivated. But superiors in the work place provide very limited praise based staments; instead I would argue that within the the workplace supervisors are much more likely to chastise or criticize than to provide positive feedback. Instead it appears for some, that supervisor show praise through action. So in this moment I realized not only do I have great job security, but that by this increased work load I'm obviously trusted by my overseer; and lastly that it is ok to have things left on your to -do list, in fact with great workers it's almost expected.

When is the last time you were verbally praised at work? Does this matter to you? Was it due to completing your actual job duties or in reference to doing something extra or outside of your duties? When was the last time a supervisor provided praise through action toward you?  If you are a supervisor- is this you? Are you aware that this is or isn't you?