I was asked to judge some awards for a company recently and I thought what a wonderful initiative this is. Who doesn’t love to be recognised and appreciated for the work they do. The pat on the back & acknowledgement amongst your peers. It’s been installed in us since we were born.
Yay, you did your first poo!
Yay, your tooth came through…now we can both get some sleep.
Yay, you ate something green!
Our brains and egos feed off praise.
Awards and recognition don’t always need to come from external sources. We are great at praising others yet piss poor at praising ourselves.
I’ve mentioned this before, the appreciation party for one. (Matt Kahn). It’s celebrating your wins, big and small. Put some music on and a party hat and bathe in the essence of who you are and what you have achieved. Dance like no one is watching. Go buy yourself some flowers or a beer and do a cheers for one.
Intrinsic rewards are how we empower ourselves for our own efforts. It’s an internal feeling and the smile on your face from ear to ear. That joyful sense of satisfaction that radiates through every cell of your body. It’s taking the time to appreciate your efforts, your growth and the challenges. The times of completion, new beginnings and endings.
How do you reward your efforts?
I have a noticing wall in my office. I use sticky notes to celebrate my wins from new clients to complete the park run. I recognise even the smallest things. I also have a gratitude jar on our dining room table which I add to daily.
When we stop seeking external validation and accept that our own thoughts & feelings around accomplishment are enough, we can do the things that really make us happy without needing approval from others.