Recognize Everyone

So, in one of my quiet moments of reading and reflection I wondered, what would happen if every leader wrote a letter like this to their team members? Keep reading and then let me know your thoughts. I’m even more eager to hear your story when you action this!

 Imagine with me; you’ve worked to build up your company and after a while you have a head office with at least one branch. Several of the team members who now work at the branch were with you in the start up days and worked diligently along with you to get the business on its feet. At the branch office, they continue to give equally dedicated service and, even though there are some struggles and challenges, they weather the storms and continue to grow the organization. 

 As a great leader, you reflect on the growth of the organization and think of how you may inspire your team to keep going, and to go even further. Then the switch for the light bulb in your head is flipped on and you decide to send a greeting to those deserving team members at the branch office. You’re tied up in meetings for the next couple of weeks, but you don’t want to wait that long before you let your team members know that you’re mindful and sincerely appreciative of what they do, that you notice and are grateful for their effort, their dedication, their commitment. And so, you begin to write the thoughts, your thoughts, that you would ask your 2nd in command (at the branch office) to share with your loyal and deserving team members there. 

Imagine, with me, that your thoughts sound something like this…

Give my greetings to Petra and Andrew, they were the ones who were with me when I first started to work on making my dream a reality. Without them I would never have been able to get things going. Let them know that I know they gave up more than they had to so they could help me, and I am grateful. 

Give special greetings to Edward because he was the first to join our team of three, in the beginning days. He left his home country to join us. Specially great Mary because she worked hard to get us to this point today. I still can’t believe how much she sacrificed for us, for me.

Let Anthony and Jeron know that I said hello and that they’re in my thoughts…they are like my brothers and they lost much, in the early days, in sticking with me in building this organization. In fact, there were times they believed in my dream more than I did. 

Please greet Uri and my dear friend Sasha. They have been steady sources of support through the years. And in all your greetings, be sure to pass on a special hello to Allen and Allan. Allen proved loyal many times when things were looking shaky, and Allan and his family have given more than I could imagine or deserve.

Lastly, give my heart felt hello to Tara and Tammy. They have worked at all levels in this organization and have never stopped learning the ropes. 

 All these people have helped us to become the organization we are today. Please let them know that I truly appreciate each one of them and I can’t wait to visit them. 

Tell me, what do you think would happen at the branch office? What may the response look like? Feel like?