Thank You – The Hardest Words
I do not talk much about my job here. Its personal enough information I’d rather not discuss. To that end, this rant is going to have to walk around what I actually do, yet put into words that hopefully helps you understand where I’m coming from.
Part of my job is to gather information for people in the office. To that end, I go to many sources, using the basic facts of the customer, to get this information. This takes knowledge of many of these sources ways of obtaining the answer I need.
Recently, we came up against a dead-line for a customer and I was asked to hit as many sources as possible to get what was needed. I ran with it as hard, fast and accurate as I could – based on what I knew. When all was over, we got the account. But, during the process of tapping several sources, the person I was working with also went to one of the sources for assistance in pricing. An email was generated that indicated I did the gathering wrong and how I should have done it. It was brought to my attention and before I could explain the issues I had (ie: limitations), I was simply told “you need to pay more attention to detail.” Doesn’t matter that we didn’t go with that source and their information – it was more about what I supposedly screwed up.
… and I still haven’t been told “Thank You” for what I did do.
Why is it so damn hard for employers to say Thank You to their employees?
Anne Fisher, A Fortune Senior Writer, wrote about just that subject for CNNMoney.com.
Why saying “Thank you” is more than just good manners
A 10-year study of 200,000 managers and employees suggests that praising people for a job well done may lead to bigger profits, says Fortune’s Anne Fisher.
Its an eye opening article and answers a lot of the questions I had above.
Appreciation for a job well done only comes to those that generate money for the company. We are all a part of that process, yet appreciation stops right above you. Instead your every flaw is going to be magnified to the utmost.
Maybe they simply do not know any better.
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1Susie
wrote on 4 May 2007 at 23:15
I have never understood why most companies don’t take the time to give a pat on the back. You’re right – it could be because they don’t know any better, but I think it could also be that they don’t care. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t try to work better and harder after being given some recognition for a good job. It’s really just common sense!
2Trelaina
wrote on 5 May 2007 at 6:50
One possible issue (but I don’t think it’s the whole problem) is trickle-down. Do you think the CEO of a company thanks his direct reports? No way…they’re under the gun every minute. Because of that, they’ve forgotten what it’s like, and they don’t bother to thank their direct reports….and so on, down to us peons.
A manager has to really believe in positive reinforcement — because most likely, the good manager who thanks his employees is doing it despite that fact that he isn’t getting thanked for anything!!
3Nicki
wrote on 5 May 2007 at 8:38
It’s funny how saying “Thank you” or “Nice work” would make so many jobs more bearable.
My last employer never once thanked me or gave feedback on a job well done. One of the reasons I left the company was because I felt very unappreciated by management. To this day, they still wonder why I was unhappy with my job.