Acknowledging A Job Well Done

Have you ever wondered about your dreams? Not the ideas you have in life but your actual dreams?

I dreamt I won an Oscar this week. I have no idea what it was for, and the dream picked up with me at the airport taking it home and being treated very well. I woke up impressed with myself, and a little confused.

I have been thinking all week about this dream and where our dreams and reality cross.

I have no desire to be an actor or in the movie business at all, so whilst winning this prestigious award in my dream was awesome. It doesn’t really make sense to me from that perspective. However, if I look at it differently. I think it is about being acknowledged for a job well done.

Feedback is great, it is good to know what you are doing well and the areas you can do better at. People love to hear they have been doing a great job and are succeeding. But we often fail in telling people. We might think it but not take action on it.

I know this could flip the other way and we become so focused on praising an individual that it loses all meaning. So finding the balances is important.

For example, in interview situations, when we sadly have to decline a candidate, it is valuable to give them feedback. It is good practice to give them some positives as well as areas for development, if that is applicable. Ultimately you are saying thank you for attending, for taking time out of your day and for sharing your experiences with us. You want them to feel good and know they couldn’t have done anything else. You want them to be left with positivity about you and the company.

Similarly, If you have completed a project or task out of your usual day to day activities and it has gone well, then an acknowledgment from a colleague or manager, works wonders. It makes both parties feel good and pushes you on to do a great job in the next one.

In a day, there are likely many opportunities and situations for you to acknowledge a job well done, lets take a look:

1. Like above, your colleague who you manage, has finished a task that has taken a few months to put together. Now complete, it is out of their hands and into yours and having looked through it, you are very pleased with their work. At your next catch up you say ‘well done’ and provide some positive feedback and comments appropriate to the task. You don’t have to go in to deep, instead recognise all their efforts and thank them.
2. If you are out for a meal and really enjoy the food. Then talk to your waiter/ress and let them know how good it was. They usually ask when you have a mouthful of food and it is difficult to say anything at this point. Once they return to clear the plates, let them know how much you enjoyed their food. They usually do ask and a little praise goes a long way.
3. A neighbour taking in your parcel is always a positive, although more often now, parcels are left in safe places. On the rare occasion when they do take it for you, really say thank you and be appreciative of what they did. It might seem small and most neighbours are happy to do it but a smile and a thank you go a long way. It saved you having to wait for your item and possibly a trip to the post office.
4. When your partner or family member does something kind and helpful. For example, if they do the shopping or washing or even cook you a meal, say thank you and let them know how good it was (or maybe it wasn’t, but points for trying). Quite often our partners regularly do things and we don’t notice it as we are used to it. It doesn’t mean it isn’t appreciated but it may feel like it to them. Every so often talk to them and let them know how wonderful and amazing it is and how thankful you are too them for what they do.
5. Pat yourself on the back. Take a moment to stop and acknowledge yourself and how well you have done. Some people in life will always be happy to tell you how wonderful they are and bang on about all the things they have achieved. You won’t want to be one of those people, but say well done to yourself. Look in the mirror and say how proud you are for achieving – insert activity or task here – and smile. There is nothing wrong with self acknowledgment. Take a moment to realise what you have accomplished.

Regardless if you have won an Oscar for your achievements, completed a self project, or you have been part of the process for someone else to achieve and complete. Then stand up, make your speech and let everyone know how thankful you are to them and how impressed you were with the outcome.

Take this into your week and see what happens. Notice the reactions of those you speak with. You can make someone’s day just by acknowledgment a job well done.

Thank you for reading. Have a great week and look after you.

Love Emma xx