Any Mad Men fans out there?
I first caught an episode during a trans-Atlantic flight and have been hooked ever since. For those not up on the latest US television shows, Mad Men is a retro drama set in the heady New York advertising world (with firms traditionally located on Madison Avenue) of the 1960s.
In the episode two weeks ago, Don Draper, founding partner of the ad firm, perfectly espoused the prevailing attitude towards employee recognition half a century ago as captured in this clip. (Skip ahead to the 1:44 mark if you’re short on time and don’t need the context.)
Peggy is angry with Don (her direct manager) for failing to properly recognize an idea of hers that led Don to win a major industry award, which led to this volatile exchange:
Don: It’s your job! I give you money, you give me ideas.
Peggy: You never say thank you!
Don: That’s what the money is for!
Don caps it off towards the end of the clip by telling Peggy: “You should be thanking me for giving you another day.”
I’d like to believe we’ve grown past that attitude in the last 50 years, but too often I still hear the argument, “My employees’ salary is thanks enough.” As I’ve said before, cash does not motivate, it does not recognize, it does not appreciate. Cash compensates. Pure and simple.
People – at all levels – need to know that their efforts matter, that their work is noticed and appreciated. Some leaders are getting this right. An example out of the UK is Lord Ian MacLaurin, former Chairman and CEO of the massive Tesco chain of stores. (Click through for the short video.)
Lord MacLaurin makes the point:
“The humblest person in an organization is the most important – never, ever forget that. … Human touches, saying thank you, acknowledging people – that brings the spirit through for the company.”
Watch the video for a better understanding of how this very busy CEO always found the time to directly and personally thank his staff for their efforts that have made Tesco such a success.
As an employee, what has your experience been? Like Mad Men or Tesco? If you are in a leadership or managerial position, what’s your style? Oh so 50-years-ago or much more in the spirit of today?
As Globoforce’s CMO & Head of Strategic Consulting, Derek Irvine is an internationally minded management professional with over 20 years of experience helping global companies set a higher ambition for global strategic employee recognition, leading workshops, strategy meetings and industry sessions around the world. His articles on fostering and managing a culture of appreciation through strategic recognition have been published in Businessweek, Workspan and HR Management. Derek splits his time between Dublin, Montreal and Boston. Follow Derek on Twitter at @globoforce.
I have seen this far too often- especially in this economy. Far too many employers think employees should e groveling for the opportunity to earn a paycheck. It's nice to be somewhere one can feel appreciated!
Posted by: Gina | 09/14/2010 at 01:25 PM
I know what you mean about Tesco; their employees set the standard in customer care and service! When I lived in the UK they were my supermarket, hands down!
In the US I think you'll find employees from Publix and the Home Depot equally excited about their job. Which brings me to the point that pay alone would never generate such positive employee attitudes; it's all about treatment, about consideration, about the company giving a d*** about their people. Employees who are well taken care of, in the broadest sense, pay dividends to their employers every day.
Here at home I always shop at Publix, where employees will drop what they're doing to go find you that item you're looking for. You can't pay people enough to get that care back in return.
Posted by: Chuck Csizmar | 09/14/2010 at 03:06 PM
Love it! I once had a mad man boss and I actually enjoyed the experience while I was still learning the ropes. Well, at least in retrospect. But once you get some experience under your belt watching someone else take the recognition gets old. No one with a choice will put up with it for long.
Posted by: Laura Schroeder | 09/15/2010 at 04:16 AM
Gina, yes, the economy has definitely impacted this perception of "just be grateful you have a job" as recognition enough. And that's too bad because the economy will recover and employees who do not feel appreciated for their efforts will leave for where they will be.
Chuck, precisely. Some companies, I think, are finally beginning to realize this by no longer listing shareholder value as their first priority with employees last, but rather putting employees at the head of the list and realizing if the employees are engaged and excited, then that will fuel customer service/satisfaction, which will in turn fuel shareholder value.
Laura, thanks! You're right, no one with choices and experience will put up with that attitude for long.
Posted by: Derek Irvine, Globoforce | 09/15/2010 at 11:16 AM