Blue Bridge Leadership

Executive Coaching, Career Coaching, Training, Leadership Development, Professional Development

Off the Wall Christmas Contest for Work

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In a previous post, I talked about giving out an award (even for zany reasons) as a means of recognizing and appreciating others. Here’s an off the wall Christmas contest, based on a game I played many years ago. It’s called “Guess the Christmas Carol.” Okay, so perhaps it’s not business-y enough to deserve a real award, but hey! Who cares? It’s fun! And…perhaps it’s another good way of building work relationships.

Directions: Guess the Christmas Carol. (Hint: Replace many of the words with synonyms). I’ll give you the answer to the first one. See how many you or your colleagues can figure out. 

  1. Approach everyone who is steadfast. (Answer: Oh Come All Ye Faithful)
  2. Ecstasy toward the orb.
  3. Listen! The Foretelling spirits harmonize.
  4. Hey, Minuscule urban area southeast of Jerusalem.
  5. Quiescent Nocturnal period.
  6. The Autocrat troika originating near the ascent of Apollo.
  7. The primary carol.
  8. Embellish the corridors.
  9. I’m fantasizing concerning a blanched yuletide.
  10. I apprehended my maternal parent osculating with a corpulent unshaven male in crimson disguise.
  11. During the time ovine caretakers supervised their charges past midnight.
  12. The thing manifests itself at the onset of a transparent day.
  13. The coniferous nativity.
  14. What offspring abides thus?
  15. Removed in a bovine feeding trough.
  16. Valentino, the roseate proboscises wapiti.
  17. The slight percussionist lad.
  18. Father Christmas approaches the metropolis.
  19. Seraphim we aurally detected in the stratosphere.
  20. The Creator reassures you, lively fellows.

So reader, can you come up with your own? If so, share with the rest of us!

Gratitude and Appreciation: 10 Easy Employee Recognition Strategies

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Winston Churchill said it best: “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” This brings to mind employee recognition, though the topic is certainly relevant to anyone you encounter.

Here are 10 easy, no or low cost ways to recognize others and demonstrate your appreciation:

  1. Take her out to lunch.
  2. Offer to do one of his unpleasant tasks that he would normally have to do.
  3. Ask him questions about his personal interests and aspirations.
  4. Send her a thank you card via mail, expressing your gratitude for what she does. Be specific.
  5. Put up a “You’re Awesome” bulletin board, where staff can pin up words of thanks to their colleagues. Works for the family too!
  6. Employee Olympics, anyone? What kinds of events or competitions could you create? What kinds of medals and awards would you give?
  7. Ask the team to give him a standing ovation for a job well done.
  8. Rotate weekly who gets the “Trophy of Awesomeness” (or whatever you want to call it), based on who went above and beyond the call of duty.
  9. When did hand-written, honest to goodness, thank you cards go out of style?
  10. If all else fails, an afternoon off would certainly do the trick.
What do you do for employee recognition? Put your ideas in the comment box below.
And stay tuned for 10 more strategies next week.
P.S.  If you enjoyed this post and would like to stay current on topics such as personal and organizational leadership, employee engagement and satisfaction, and personal and professional growth and development, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter (with free ebook) and blog. 

Gratitude and Thanksgiving: Chipped Teeth, Crusty Dishes, and What’s That Smell?

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With the approach of Thanksgiving, it’s only right that I express my gratitude. So here goes!

I am thankful for

  • The unique whiff I get when I slide under the sheets next to my sleeping husband, because at least he’s there.

  • Crusty dishes in the sink, because there’s always plenty to eat.

  • Leftover mashed potatoes. They can be added to almost anything else you eat.
  • The way my new dog chews holes in my carpet, (yes, holes, I said), because a dog is better than no dog (ahem!).
  • The way said new dog has ruined every flower bed in our backyard, thus freeing up time I use to spend on gardening.

  • The way my husband smiles, chipped teeth and all, thanks to roughhousing with kids.

  • Pillows all over the floor, thanks to roughhousing kids. Lived in house equals loved house.
  • Potential clients who find out I actually charge for my services, only to never be heard from again. Such a time-saver.
  • Love to go around a million times over in my family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. What are you thankful for?

The Loser-Leader Who Lost It

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So I like to call myself a leader. Leading my coaching clients. Leading my groups. And perhaps the most difficult–leading my kids. Now whether I’m a good leader or a not so good leader is debatable. And clearly I will not have that kind of debate with my children because I’d probably lose.

Case in point:

I was driving my kids to school a few days ago, cranking up the volume, trying to drown out the sound of my bickering children in the backseat. Can you believe my daughter had the audacity to touch her brother, much to his chagrin?

“Stop touching me!”

“You eat stink bombs.”

“Shut up!”

“But you do!”

Poke, poke.

Unable to drown out the music, the screaming, and name-calling, I pulled the car over and threatened them with their lives. And no, I was not calm. I’m sure I had eyes of fire and the contorted face of a madman.

Was I proud of my behavior? Well, it stopped the screaming, all right, albeit temporarily. But was it worth the damage? Could I not have simply stated, “We will sit in this parking lot until you’re done fighting. And if you’re late for school, too bad.”

But I let my temper and frustration get the best of me.

What about you? In your leadership areas, do you sometimes fall off the wagon, letting your nasty rage rip through the hearts of your people? Maybe it’s not so bad. You just occasionally make a snide remark, pinch up your face, or shoot laser beams from your eyes.

What do you stand to lose?

Is there a better way to communicate your displeasure, your disappointment, your frustration? What strategies do you employ when you feel you’re about to lose it? Put your ideas in the comment box below.

A Twinkie Lesson in Recognition and Appreciation

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She’s been given life, and the only favor I wanted was her Twinkie. Luscious, puffy golden sunshine cake surrounding creamy white goodness.

But no, do you think she could share her delectables? My daughter transformed into a hyena, snapping her jaws at me, protecting the treats she received from a recent church party.

Does she not realize I’ve given her the best gift of all—her very own life? Does she consider how I’ve bathed her, fed her empty belly, read her Green Eggs and Ham so many times that now I’m even willing to eat the month-old greenish ham in the fridge?

Yeah, right. No parade. No banners shouting out my motherly goodness. I was only asking for a Twinkie, the one that lay like a shining, yellow star atop a heap of Milky Ways, suckers, and licorice. Just a small treat, an expression of her gratitude for all she had.

Sometimes, it’s not the main things—like our jobs or our homes or life, itself—but the little things that make us feel valued, appreciated, and significant.

Do you demonstrate your appreciation toward others?

Do you express how much you value your family, colleagues, and friends? Do they know their significance?

Sure, your employees are grateful for their jobs. But could they be longing for something more from you—a written thank you note, an afternoon off, a cheering word, accolades for a job well done?

What about your spouse? You pay the bills, you’ve remained faithful, you come home for supper every night—yes, all big things. But what about the little tokens of appreciation—the kiss hello, the massage of aching shoulders, the taking over of chores?

Often, it’s the little things that count.

It wasn’t so much the Twinkie that I wanted. What I really wanted was the sacrifice from my daughter, demonstrating how blessed she felt, so much so that she was willing to part with the crowning jewel of her candy pile.

But she didn’t. Being eight years old, she has much to learn. We all do, I suppose. So what did I do? I did what any good mother would do. I stole it when she went to bed. Inhaled it right up. Like I said, she has much to learn, and it’s my privilege—no, my job—to help her along the way.