Recognition & Recall

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Recognition:

source: Merriam Webster

Listen up folks! Whether you’re a manager or an individual contributor, recognition is KEY. It is key for you to recognize others and it is key for you to recognize yourself. Someone do something helpful for you? Send them a thank you and be specific about what they did and how it helped. Your boss has been really awesome lately? Let them know about it. (Yes, you should recognize people above you). Recognition matters because it’s a motivator, a validator and helpful for job hunting.

I started doing a little “self recognition” early on in my career. If anyone sent me a thank you note or a kudos on something, I saved it in a folder. I put this under “self recognition” because on bad days- I reread them for a confidence booster. On days like today, when I’m updating and redoing my resume, this folder is an AWESOME recall tool. Let’s break it down.

There is no way after working for multi years you remember your accomplishments. There’s also no way you’re constantly updating your resume (but you should). Okay so now you have to update your resume but you have no idea what to put. This is where the recognition helps with recall.

As I mentioned before, I used to save every note, kudos and the documents related to those. When I left a job, I forwarded those emails to myself and when I could, saved the documents. I saved the documents FOR MY OWN USE and NOT for distribution. )This is important because in some cases that’s illegal and well, don’t do illegal stuff.)

Today, that folder became super helpful. I needed to redo my resume ASAP after a conversation with a career coach. She was asking me if I had any examples of certain things and I couldn’t think of them off the top of my head but I just knew I had at one point. I rushed home and low and behold, my recognition folder came in clutch with the recall!

You might be reading this like - oh shoot I’ve never done this or thought about it. Well, you can get started today and here’s how

  • Search your inbox for “great job” “thank you” or “award” - anything recognition related

  • FORWARD THOSE EMAILS TO YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT (if you don’t have a personal email, dude, get one)

  • Set up an archive folder and put all of those emails in that folder so it’s easy to find in the future!

  • Find any related documents you created that you got the recognition for. Save those! You’'ll want to use these to recall your actual contribution

  • Send out a recognition to 3 people today

    • That’s right, this is a pay it forward blog and strategy so get those recognitions out

You’re going to thank yourself one day when you’re 1 down on yourself 2 need some examples of what you’ve actually done with your career. Recognition & recall is so important for the day to day and the future. So get started TODAY!