Aug 6, 2014
Create a Better Workplace on Ten Cents a Day
Is it worth a dime or some finger snapping to create a better workplace? Absolutely.
In basketball, when you assist another player in making a basket, it’s called “dropping a dime.” Scott O’Neil, the new CEO of the 76ers of the National Basketball Association and the Devils of the National Hockey League, sent a memo to his office staff last week, asking them to literally start dropping dimes on each other when they see great assists in the workplace.
Here’s the memo:
“Make today a dime day. Recognize someone who has given you an assist, made your life here more enjoyable, or made it easier to get where we want to be. Actually, get a card, tape a dime, and hand deliver. It is powerful, it matters, and it spreads the energy we bring here every second of every day.”
O’Neil is a brilliant leader and he understands the power of positive recognition or random acts of kindness in the workplace. When people serve other and are kind to others it always comes back to them. And isn’t it great that these random acts of kindness only cost a dime?
In my consulting work, I find every great corporate culture has its own traditions of peer-to-peer recognition. At Zappos, I found them using SNAPS (Super Nifty And Positive Stuff). During their huddles, employees would recognize each other for living the values of the organization by snapping their fingers at great performers instead of clapping. Wacky yes, but it fits their high-energy culture.
Shawn Achor, a positive psychology researcher, says it’s important to look for things to be thankful for every single day. What follow are some ways to be more positive from Achor, along with some ideas mingled in from me:
• Find three things every day for which you are grateful and write them in a journal.
• Before you go to sleep, take a few minutes to unplug and reflect on the positives that happened that day.
• Think of all the people who do little things for you every day that may go unnoticed and make sure they are thanked.
Speaker
Chester Elton Tags