Recognition as Communication

One of the highlights of my trip to SHRM in New Orleans was getting to hear Jack Welch speak.  The main theme of his presentation was increasing communication to build trust within your team.  He encouraged us to determine ways to encourage those around us to think innovatively every day and to feel the excitement of tomorrow.

As I listened I thought about our developing concept of recognition as a communication tool.  Mr. Welch said that to be successful we must take care of our best by being creative about rewarding valuable talent.  As we begin to think innovatively, recognition can be an additional tool in an arsenal of communication options.

Okay, so how can recognition be a communication tool?  The better question is how can communication be consistently reinforced daily?  The obvious answer is with a creatively unique item symbolizing a memorable story.  It’s why the best remembered concepts are taught through visual aids and metaphors.  When you can picture it in your mind (or on your desk) the story can reverberate for years.  

This concept has been practiced effectively in the sports world for decades.  Some of the more obvious representations of memories are Championship Rings, Olympic medals – each unique to commemorate a special event.   As the season is upon us - College Football seems to memorialize its histories, traditions, and treasures as well as any other sport – the Little Brown Jug awarded the winner of Michigan and Minnesota, the Old Oaken Bucket awarded the winner of Indiana and Purdue, and one of my favorites – the Golden Hat between Oklahoma and Texas.   Each of these awards began with a story that grew into a symbol of a rivalry and a victory.   

In Oak Ridge, Tennessee they present the “Muddy Boot Award” to “communicate respect, honor, pride, and joy for significant and long-term contributions to improving East Tennessee”.   East Tennessee Economic Council President Jim Campbell says, “Each boot has a story . . .our partners want to preserve and tell to the next generation of Oak Ridgers”.

Everyone who has one of these truly unique and memorable symbols relives the story at some level in every glance.  How do you communicate your story?