Looking After the Good Guys
I’ve now had a little time to reflect on just how much this means to me, and how others can learn from the incredible culture at Travel Counsellors.
27 years and counting in the travel industry, and I’ve found my place. I’ve never not been the kind of person who wants to help others… it’s just who I am. But only now has the light been turned on. I’d love to be virtuous enough to say “I don’t need praise” or “I’ll always be helpful to others, no matter what”, but I now see that this wasn’t quite true.
I did my best to be the “good guy” in my previous job, and although I received little or no recognition or encouragement for going above and beyond to help others, I didn’t think it mattered to me. I was wrong. After many years of thankless giving, I’m slightly embarrassed to admit, I felt worn down. It contributed to a feeling of futility… a sense that I wasn’t making much of a difference. I’d wonder… “what’s the point”. I have no doubt it played a part in my decision to leave the only company I had ever worked for after 20 years.
What hindsight now shows me is the stark truth. Yes, I was a kind and giving person, but I needed the oxygen of recognition and appreciation to sustain my energy and efforts. I wish I could have carried on un-sung with the same gusto, but I couldn’t. Appreciation and gratitude doesn’t need to be public awards (wonderful as those are). For me, all I needed was a word of thanks, a short email, or just a smile. Just to know what you’re doing is landing, makes all the difference.
If you’re already one of the “good guys” and you don’t think your leaders are noticing – share this post. The value-of-recognition penny might drop. If it doesn’t, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Even if your bosses don’t see or acknowledge what you are doing, you ARE having a great impact on others. I had no idea how much my efforts were appreciated until this weekend. I’m certain your efforts are too – so keep up the good work. It will be making a difference in ways you may never know.
If you’re considering being a “good guy”. Go for it. Dominoes, Multiplier-Effect… whatever model or analogy you fancy, a little goes a long way. And it feels great. I’ve loved seeing the successes and personal and business growth of those I’ve mentored.
Only having moved into a hugely positive and supportive environment did I realise how much energy I drew from steady feedback.
So, if you’re a business leader, I urge you to emulate the intoxicating culture that CEO Steve Byrne oversees at Travel Counsellors. Here is my message and some action points for you on “looking after your good guys”:
· Identify and RECOGNIZE these “good guys”. Ask around. Ask your team. Who is working hard to make your community better. · Cultural message – Bake colleague support into the non-negotiables of your company. If colleagues help colleagues “horizontally”, as well as fostering community spirit, it alleviates “vertical” pull on resource. Win-win. · Encourage value-adding behaviour. Empowering your team to lift each other up and motivate and mentor from within. · Credit where credit is due. Recognizing your “good guys” will re-charge them to do more. It validates their good practice and encourages them to rinse and repeat. Despite appearances, they do need praise. · Domino effect. Others will step from the shadows when they see recognition and praise dished out for virtues beyond raw sales performance. Your team needs a strong blend of headline performers and enablers. See how Formula One recognises both the drivers champion and the team constructors champion. · Open the feedback floodgates. Encourage feedback – positive and constructive feedback fertilise your entire environment.
If you neglect to do this, your greatest internal influencers might just leave you and find somewhere else where they feel more valued.
After my award, we recognised the stellar sales performance from TCs around the world, culminating in the “Top Performing Global TC” award which for the first time was shared between Gary Fitzgibbon and Chris D'Arcy . I am in awe of the achievements of these superstars. There was announced a luxurious “winners trip” to Athens. I was delighted when Global Sales Director Jim Eastwood asked me if I was looking forward to it. I hadn’t realised my particular award qualified alongside the sales galacticos of our community – but the fact that I too was given a place on that trip shows the importance TC puts on the One Team principles.
Look after your Good Guys. They’ll do more for your teams than you’ll ever know.