Currency that Costs Nothing: Acknowledgement.

This is part 2 of a 3-part series about valuable currencies that don't cost any money or very little money. Today's subject is Acknowledgement. It applies in all human interaction, but it is especially applicable at work in the boss/worker relationship.

Acknowledgment is defined as "recognition of the existence of or truth of something." It is a great definition. When a boss acknowledges someone, they are recognizing the worker's existence and the truth of what they have accomplished. Who doesn't like that?

I was recently reminded of the value of Acknowledgement due to a personal health issue that came up.

In March of 2023, I had a heart attack and had to do cardiac rehab. It was a 36-session supervised workout over 12 weeks. When I finished they gave me a Certificate of Completion. I know that it was just a piece of paper, but I wanted to keep it. It symbolized the accomplishment of finishing something.

It also reminded me of something we did several years ago at my company. We provided certificates of appreciation for a big project that we had completed.
I remember at the time being surprised and how people kept those certificates. Some folks put them on their wall. Some people even framed them and had them up for years. Acknowledgment really is of great value.

Here are three simple ways to spend the Currency of Acknowledgement:

1. Create Certificates of Completion, or Certificates of Appreciation, and present them to employees. Make sure it is for something real. It doesn't have to be a huge thing, but it does need to be real.

2. Give out gift cards for employee birthdays and work anniversaries. They don't have to be expensive cards. $10 fast food cards are fine. It is a little fun treat, and it acknowledges that the employee is important to the company.

3. Make it an important part of your routine to say hello to your employees. I make the mistake of not doing this sometimes. My failure to do this has nothing to do with the employees. It is just that I start concentrating on an issue before I walk in the door. It is important to make saying hello a priority.

Remember, not all incentives have to be elaborate or expensive. Sometimes a simple acknowledgement is a motivator.