Turning grievances into gratitude
Picture a workplace where output is at a record high, where employees look forward to the work day, where people are equaled to their strengths and are acknowledged appropriately, where you can recalculate mistakes and spin them into opportunities.
This starts with recognizing and celebrating employee positivity within an organization. According to Scott Friedman, an internationally sought after professional speaker and author, this is easier than you imagine.
“As many perceive, employees’ recognition is not just a nice thing to do for people, but activating a positive mindset that can not only affect our attitudes toward work, but the outcomes which follow,” he told the Business Times. In addition to being the CCO- Chief Celebration Officer at Friedman & Associates, Scott has written “Celebrate- Lessons Learned from the World’s Most Admired Organizations,” “Happily Ever Laughter – How to Engage Any Audience,” and “Using Humor For A Change.” He was in Sri Lanka to hold a seminar on employee motivation and celebrating employees.
It’s easy to understand that Scott is a real advocate for celebration. On his calling card/name card, the title is CCO, which stands for Chief Celebration Officer. “Celebration leads to engagement. When they’re allowed to be their aesthetic selves, employees tend to flourish,” he says.
He defines celebration as acknowledging all that is good. He says it so important in the workplace and in life and it’s aptly decoded in his latest book, Celebrate – Lessons Learned from the World’s Most Admired Organizations.
“This speaks about developing a personal “GPS”,” he said. Elaborating what this GPS is, Scott said that it stands for Gratitude, Play and Surprise.
Explaining some real ways that one can apply the “GPS” to our own personal and professional life, Scott says posting a thank you note on an employee’s door, encouraging and recognising staff who pursue continuing education, encouraging, enabling and empowering staff to excel, acknowledging individual achievements by using employee’s name when preparing a status report, inscribing a favourite book as a gift, establishing a “Behind the Scenes” award specifically for those whose actions are not usually in the limelight and nominating the employees for a university formal award programme will be effective.
In tight financial times, ongoing, meaningful rewards and recognition provide an effective, low cost way of raising morale and encouraging higher levels of performance. “If you care for your staff, it’ll produce greater results,” Scott reiterates.
With blithe humour and inspirational honesty, Scott offers techniques for turning grievances into gratitude, dismay into play, and failure into lessons learned, all ready for celebration.
In his latest book, Scott weaves pertinent research with ready-to-use examples showcasing the power of the “Celebration Mindset” in action. He shares how turning on and applying the “GPS” will guide you toward your greatest potential in your organization and your life.
Scott now spends 30 per cent of his time speaking throughout Asia. His client list includes Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, Gold Fields of South Africa, Young President’s Organization, Hyatt Asia, Marriott, Starwood, SHRM, AT&T, IBM, Cisco System and many Fortune 1000 companies. He adds that varied experiences have brought him success in many industries including: hospitality, meetings, real estate, insurance, health care, education, government and a variety of associations.
He also says that celebration is a tried and tested method when implemented, authenticity and innovation, where productivity, performance and profit potential soar in a company.