Encouraging the heart

Purposeful celebrations

To encourage the heart of others leaders need to appreciate the individual and team efforts of their employees. Recognizing superior efforts with rewards and celebrations honors individual and team productivity (Kouzes & Posner, 2007). The spirit of a thriving, victorious work community is contagious like a smile. Yes, yawns are contagious too however employees who are valued with spontaneous celebrations are less likely to be sleepy or bored (Alter, 2012). Leaders who engage workers intimately daily are enriched with knowledge and understanding that cannot be found sitting behind their desk thinking about ways to participate (George & Sims, 2007). Mutual respect and trust is built upon knowing and understanding one another (Alter, 2012). Authentic leaders who actively participate with employees are rewarded with deeper connections and enhanced, trusting relationships (George & Sims, 2007).

Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles outline powerful morale busters in the book Gung Ho which identifies a gung ho game plan where the spirit of the squirrel is celebrated to identify worthwhile work, while the way of the beaver is celebrated as being in control of achieving goals and the gift of the goose is celebrated as cheering one another on. After each animalistic step within the gung ho process there is a time allocated for reassessing, redirecting efforts and cheering on the organizational progress toward reaching vital goals (Blanchard & Bowles, 1998). Using animals as graphic representations to establish human endeavors in business is one way to encourage the heart and motivate employees but there are several others. The best ideas on how to motivate and encourage the heart of your employees should come f...

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...l qualities that everyone can embrace because we all have mothers however leaders need to have the courage to develop and manifest the qualities of caring, kindness and consideration which requires vulnerability to the leader’s affections and desires.

References

Alter, M. (2012). Show your employees they matter. Managing people at work, 363, 4. Retrieved from: http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=fcf9ecfe-5c20-4baf-ab28-ce5e12c0f0a1%40sessionmgr113&hid=107

Blanchard, K., & Bowles, S. (1998). Gung Ho! Turn on the people in any organization (1st ed.). New York, N.Y. : William Morrow and Company, Inc.

George, B., & Sims, P. (2007). True North: Discover your authentic leadership (1st ed.). San Francisco, CA 94103-1741: Jossey-Bass.

Kouzes, J., & Posner, B. (2007). The Leadership Challenge (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA 94103-1741: Jossey-Bass.