Inspiring Workplaces 
The Way Work Ought to Be!

#1,045 - October 30, 2024

My wife and I popped into a seafood restaurant in Vancouver, B.C., the morning after dining there, and asked to speak to the manager. 

You could tell from the look on his face that the manager was bracing for bad news. 

After all, why do customers typically ask to speak to the manager? 

He was relieved and delighted after we shared that we wanted to make a point of returning to rave about the incredible server we had the night before. He thanked us profusely and was thrilled to hear our review because the server had just started working there a few weeks earlier. 

The look on the manager’s face when we first approached him is the exact same look some employees will have when they receive a note from you, their boss, asking for a meeting. They may immediately wonder, “Is there a problem?” or “Did I mess up?” 

Imagine how much you’ll stand out as a leader OR as a colleague and build a lasting legacy by inviting coworkers to a conversation where the entire focus is to show them your heartfelt, genuine (emphasis on genuine) appreciation for their work, especially something they did to go above and beyond their normal duties. 

Dedicated appreciation conversations will be something your employees talk to their families about and remember for a long time, and it’s a practice that will have an enormous impact on their sense of belonging.