Alford Sabiano, Lean Six Sigma, Human Centered Design’s Post

I saw a recent post from an executive (a former CEO) who had received a couple of different lifetime achievement awards from the industry he spent his career in. The executive said he was honored and rightfully gave credit to the employees of the companies he led. That’s all well and good but making sure those people are recognized at every opportunity is more important. I know someone who traveled all over the world for several years accomplishing major goals for their company. Their EVP even accepted an award overseas for all that work at a major industry event. Great, right? Well, except for the part where he came back to the office, showed off the award to his staff and said, “Does anyone know what this award was for?”. Don’t be THAT executive. The one who doesn’t have a clue about major projects your teams are working on and how long and how hard they’ve been working on them. Likewise, don’t be a direct report to that executive who fails to make sure they know what their people are doing and how it’s contributing to the company. There are things that separate the great bosses — the ones employees all want to work for — from the ones that make people want to work somewhere else. Recognizing the accomplishments of the people who work for you as they’re happening and being openly thankful for the way those accomplishments reflect on you is at or near the top of the list.

Ever slept through an award ceremony? Well, that was me this week - literally. I’d been under the weather for a few days and allowed myself a rest day on Thursday to give my body time to restore some energy. I was napping on the couch when I was recognised with an award as part of our quarterly internal Client Partnership Recognition program! I don’t often take sick days - even when I probably should - so the timing was a bit ironic! It’s been a challenging few months with a big restructure, and there were definitely moments when it wasn’t easy to keep going. I know this hasn’t been unique to my work, but to the media industry as a whole. It’s been a tough time for many. As someone who works closely with teams to navigate change, I know first-hand how challenging it can be to adapt and keep going. This award reminded me that showing up and doing your best, even when things aren’t easy, doesn’t go unnoticed. Sometimes, the effort you put in might feel invisible, but don't be fooled, people ARE paying attention. Not to get too sappy here but reading through all the great nominations and call-outs for this quarter was heart-warming. It’s a reminder that recognition isn’t just for a select few - there are so many people doing amazing work every day, and it’s something we should take the time to celebrate more often. A little goes a long way as they say. I’m lucky I get to work with some great people on our team. It makes all the difference on how we show up every day. We support each other, share the workload, and always take time to have a laugh, even when things are tough. Who can resist a dancing cat GIF?! You'd be surprised how many variations there are to get you through the entire week! 😺 So, long story short - it was perfect timing to brighten my mood on a day I wasn’t feeling my best. #employeerecognition #teamwork #gratitude #resilience #appreciation #showingup #managingchange Sophie Madden Edgardo (Jed) Tallada Hayley Pollard Lauren Paul

For a long time, I wanted to be the first, the top, the best. When I was in school, I was always in competition with my classmates and I loved winning as many awards as possible. 🥇 But as I get older, things have slowly shifted. I've seen some people on LinkedIn post about the awards they've won recently (which is amazing — congrats to all these agencies!!), and my competitive brain wants to jump in and see what I can "win." It's so nice to be recognized, and it feels great to be at the top. But I also know that it's ok to fly under the awards radar. Because, at the end of the day, I want to know if I'm influencing those in my smaller circle positively. Here are some questions I like to ask myself: • Am I doing my best work, without compromising quality? • Am I having fun at work? • Are our clients happy with the work we're doing for them? Are we meeting their goals? • Do we communicate well with our clients and within our team? • Does my job allow me to have the life I want (and not the other way around)? • Is my team happy with their work and not stressed or headed towards burnout? I'm almost always able to answer "yes" to all of these, and that brings me a whole lot of joy and contentment on a weekly basis. For me (and my team, and our clients!), that's a win. 💛

Before the end of Q2, I want to hurry up with the news from the previous quarter. I was honored to be named the Marketing Team’s Key Player of Q1!   Screenshot with my grateful, happy face, eagerly awaiting this post for almost 3 months 😁 🎉 This recognition has truly inspired me, and it got me thinking about the power of appreciation. Our recent launch of the internal recognition hub really highlighted how important it is to foster motivation and a positive culture among the team. Creating a culture of recognition isn’t just a checkbox for the Employer Brand; it’s an integral part of a thriving team where everyone benefits: ✔ The company gains a high-performing, loyal workforce. ✔ Team experiences a boost in motivation and job satisfaction. So, here’s a little reminder for all of us: don’t wait until the end of a project to give props. Celebrate those small wins too!

How to Make Year-End Recognition Authentic and Impactful ✨ As we approach the end of the year, recognition takes on an even greater significance. It’s a chance to celebrate contributions, reflect on growth, and reinforce the values that drive your team forward. But recognition is most powerful when it’s authentic and meaningful. Here’s how to ensure your year-end efforts resonate: ✅ Be specific: Go beyond general praise like "Great work this year!" Highlight unique contributions, skills, or efforts to make the recognition feel personal. ✅ Tie it to values: Link recognition to your organization’s mission or values. For example, "Your innovative mindset this year embodied our commitment to continuous improvement." ✅ Think beyond the awards: Sometimes, a heartfelt message, a shoutout in a team meeting, or even time to recharge can mean more than tangible rewards. ✅ Make it inclusive: Recognition should reach everyone, from high-profile achievements to the behind-the-scenes efforts that make success possible. When recognition is heartfelt and tailored, it creates lasting impact. It inspires individuals, strengthens connections, and sets the tone for continued success in the year ahead. What’s one way your team is making recognition count this year? 💬 #YearEndRecognition #EmployeeEngagement #TeamSuccess #AuthenticLeadership #Xceleration

🌟 little recognition vs. BIG RECOGNITION 🌟 This week has been extremely stressful. Multiple, high priority deliverables, on top of end-of-the-school-year activities, and helping my mother move - it’s a lot. As I was analyzing survey results I was reminded of the importance of recognition. Many people talk about recognition and leaders immediately think big program or lots of money. Sometimes that is what people are talking about. But oftentimes they are talking about those little recognition moments. Here are a few examples of what that looked like for me this week: 🌟 A shoutout, visible to the entire department, to myself and a few team members on Teams after delivering a webinar to clients with client feedback. 🌟 Our department leaders do a phenomenal job of starting each team meeting with recognition and they recognize team members by region. My manager was thoughtful about including a thank you for setting aside time to help another colleague. 🌟 A client sending thank you messages showing appreciation for collaboration and information. These gestures took nothing more than time and thoughtfulness on someone else’s part but made a very stressful week end on a positive note! Don’t forget how impactful small steps can be!

Are award ceremonies still relevant? Awards season is here, and it's more than just a chance to dress up. Celebrating success boosts morale, fosters a culture of healthy competition, and creates shared memories. It’s a strategic part of our culture, marketing, and staffing plans. We believe in the power of impactful award ceremonies. Recognising achievements and celebrating success inspires excellence and energises teams. It’s also a great way to showcase your work, vision, and values to a wider audience. If you've been dwelling on putting together a list of award categories that recognises the success of your team and need the nudge to tell you it's a good idea...consider yourself nudged! https://lnkd.in/epScAwex

*𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 *𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒅? 🤔** Recognition doesn’t just happen—you have to make it happen. If you want your hard work to be seen, it's up to you to put it in the spotlight. 🌟 But here’s the thing: it’s not enough to work hard in silence. You need to take charge, be visible, and ensure that what you do gets the recognition it deserves. ⏳✨ 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆: 𝑩𝒆 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆: Make sure you’re seen in the spaces that matter. Share your successes and let others know what you’re achieving. 🔦 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅𝒍𝒚: Don’t shy away from showcasing your hard work. If you don’t promote yourself, who will? 📣 𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒈𝒆: Connect with others and build relationships that highlight your contributions. Be proactive in making sure you stand out. 🤝 It’s not about waiting for recognition; it’s about making sure you’re noticed. Start today by taking charge of your presence. 🌟

🚀 Are you being Leapfrogged at work? 🚀 It's a familiar scene: you've been at the company for years, now your noticing newcomers climbing faster up the ladder. Wondering why? It’s probably not because you’re lacking skill or are not working hard enough. It’s more likely about the perception people have about you. If this sounds familiar, then you might find our latest blogpost and our tips for how to claim the recognition you deserve helpful. https://lnkd.in/eEr8w__C

I recently had the privilege of receiving heartfelt praise from a very successful client I've been working with. He told me I was the best coach he has ever worked with. Naturally, I was flattered and truly grateful for such recognition. However, it got me thinking: when was the last time I said something like that to myself? It's easy to downplay our own achievements and brush off self-acknowledgment. We often prioritize external validation over our own self-assessment. Yet, as I reflected on this experience, I realized the importance of owning our greatness. Until we recognize and embrace our strengths and accomplishments, we limit our potential for growth. As professionals, we thrive on feedback and recognition from clients and colleagues. It drives us to improve and excel in our roles. However, it's equally essential to cultivate a habit of self-recognition. Celebrating our own milestones and acknowledging our progress empowers us to reach new heights. So, take a moment today to acknowledge your own achievements. Whether big or small, each step forward is worth celebrating. By owning our greatness and recognizing our capabilities, we set the stage for even greater success.