The Human Hunger for Recognition

Last year, I hit a certain SkyMiles status with Delta Air Lines.

 A younger me would’ve viewed this as a badge of honor, but the older I get, the less proud I am of this “accomplishment” of time spent on an airplane.

A few weeks later, a package arrived in the mail. Inside were a couple of luggage tags featuring my newfound SkyMiles status. Now, these tags don’t actually do anything special. The tags don’t get you extra perks or faster service. They’re just… tags. So why would Delta bother? (And why would someone place these on their bag?)

Because people absolutely love this stuff.

When someone – or even some business – sees that sign and responds to it, it feels good. Really good. Those luggage tags are a sign of recognition.

So if recognition is so impactful, why don’t leaders utilize it with employees and customers more often? There are a few roadblocks that tend to get in our way:

1. We’re busy: Life moves fast, and sometimes taking a moment to recognize someone feels like a luxury we can’t afford. (Spoiler alert: We can, and we should.)

2. We think recognition needs to be expensive or grand: Not true!

3. We’re waiting for the “right moment”: We often think recognition belongs in formal settings. But guess what? Any moment can be the right moment.

One of the people who did this extremely well was a mentor of mine, Dr. Betty Siegel, the former president of Kennesaw State University. This lady was a master of recognition. And her stage? The local Waffle House.

Here’s what she’d do: When she was in town, she would spend most mornings at the local waffle house with her iconic red glasses reading the local paper. When students spotted her at breakfast and came over to say hi, she’d grab a napkin and ask them to write down the name of a professor (or any other university employee) who’d made a difference to them. She would then take the napkin and hand deliver it to that person, with the offer to trade the napkin in for a free breakfast at Waffle House…her treat.

Now, here’s the cool part – many of these napkins were never cashed in. Some professors even framed them! Why? Because that simple act of recognition meant more than any free meal ever could.

As leaders, we need to understand this:

When we take the time to acknowledge the people around us, we’re not just making them feel good (although that’s awesome, too). We’re fueling their motivation, boosting their confidence, and strengthening their commitment.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need to plan an elaborate ceremony or break the bank. Sometimes, a sincere “thank you” or a quick note can work wonders.

So, here’s my challenge:

Look for opportunities to acknowledge the efforts, growth, and impact of the people around you. Trust me, it’s one of the most powerful tools in your leadership toolkit.