Celebrate Milestones Toward a Job Well Done

Stop to acknowledge and "celebrate" a job well done, even if the whole isn't totally complete yet. 

Some people drive themselves and others hard. Take the time to celebrate individual steps. Acknowledge a job well done, or a milestone accomplished. Celebration doesn’t have to be long or elaborate, but it should be there.

Celebrating is proof of effective effort. The mind tucks this fact away and continually says, “We can do this. It is coming along well. We have the proof of having done it before. We are doing an excellent job.”

Take the time to stop and acknowledge. A good solid acknowledgement can create forward momentum. Encouragement is the oil that keeps the engine running. Job well done …

Five Days of Coaching to Celebrate Individual Steps and a Job Well Done Thus Far

DAY ONE

Celebration may be as simple as a word of appreciation or as involved as a major event acknowledging a milestone.  How good are you at taking the time to acknowledge victories?  On this thinking day take the time to examine your appreciation and celebration practices.  Do you stop to appreciate or just keep driving yourself and others forward?  Is it time for a change in strategy?  Be honest with yourself.

The Coach asks: 

• How well do you acknowledge a job well done in achieving a small step toward a larger goal? How do you intentionally take the time and put in the effort to "celebrate" your own win, or to give a "you have done well" to another? 
• What are the ways in which you acknowledge or mark another important step toward completion of some larger task or project? 
• Take time to think of how encouragement and acknowledgement affect someone who has given it their best to get this far? How does it prepare them for the next step or phase? What transaction takes place within their thinking? How do you respond to someone acknowledging your effort and progress? 
• As you think about this, are there any shifts or adjustments you think might be needed or helpful in your own practice of noticing a good job well done?  

DAY TWO

Today, appreciate others for a job well done.  Be much more aware of victories, improvements and positive changes of attitude.  Acknowledge them if appropriate.

The Coach asks: 

• Now go out and notice people taking great "next steps." Be conscious to look for this happening. You may simply not take notice day by day. But make today different. Notice. 
• Encourage people when you catch them in the act of doing well. Of course it doesn't always have to be fireworks, but a genuine look in their eyes and "a job well done," can go a long, long way. 
• Take notice of how your team responds to genuine appreciation. What happens immediately? How does it affect them for the rest of the day? What do you see? 

DAY THREE

Expand your vocabulary of celebration.  Don't begrudgingly say “thanks”.  Add some positive, upbuilding words to it.  Expand your body language to be more open, relaxed and genuine.  Say it like you mean it and say it with a real smile.

The Coach asks: 

• What is your vocabulary of celebration? How many words or phrases are in it? What new words, phrases or sentences can you add that would encourage and acknowledge the other person's efforts? 
• What body language or gestures would affirm your sincerity in thanking them? 
• What other genuine moments of acknowledgement could take place? Some people appreciate individual thanks. Others respond to public appreciation. Everyone is different. Try something out and see what the reaction is.

DAY FOUR

Think about how affirming others' efforts and positive attitudes creates an environment for success.  How could this be fostered in a genuine, fun and positive way across the organization?  How can you encourage others to follow your example?  How can you make celebration contagious?

The Coach asks: 

• What visual acknowledgements of progress - both fun, and serious - can you think of? Is there one that stands out as meaningful and doable? 
• How contagious do you believe a genuine "thank you" is? Can it be fostered across a team? What would cause others to want to acknowledge each other and a good job well done? 
• How would you like to incorporate this observation, attitude and practice? 
• What will you take action on, beginning today?  

DAY FIVE

Celebrate your own life and work.  Find a real way to appreciate the contributions you have made.  Have some others join you and appreciate and acknowledge them while you're at it.

The Coach asks: 

• If remembering, acknowledgement and celebration is important, how can you be thankful for your own contributions? 
• For the contributions of others? On what frequency? By what means? In what venue? 

Spiritual Reflection for Christian Leaders

As a Christian Executive Leadership Coach I encourage Christian leaders to reflect on God's Word to add to their wisdom.

• Ge 1:9-10  And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. ... And God saw that it was good.

• Ge 1:11-13  Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation ..." The land produced vegetation ... And God saw that it was good ... the third day.

• Ge 1:14-19  And God said, "Let there be lights in the vault of the sky ..." God made two great lights ... He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky ... And God saw that it was good ... the fourth day.

• Ge 1:20-23  And God said, "Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let the birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky." So God created ... And God saw that it was good ... the fifth day.

• Ge 1:24-31  And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures ..." God made the wild animals ... the livestock ... all the creatures.

• Ge 1:26-31  Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image ..." So God created mankind ... And God saw all that he had made, and it was very good ... the sixth day.

If you are a leader, executive, or senior level professional looking to work with a Christian Executive Coach, I invite you to connect with me here.

If appropriate, we can meet by phone or Zoom to discuss your situation.

Record Your Progress

This is your opportunity to track your progress. Start by asking yourself how important this practice is to you? Record the importance as - not at all, somewhat, fairly, highly or extremely. 

Now next to it ask yourself how well you carry out this practice. Record your performance as - very poor, poor, okay, good or very good. 

The things we track, we pay attention to. Across time, come back and record your new results. You will find that as you are intentional about making improvements, you will bump your "score" up higher. 

This is significant. Don't miss the opportunity to acknowledge your success, and use it as a springboard for making even further gain. 

Notes

Encouragement to people is like oil to an engine. Everything just runs smoother. 

Acknowledge people and the work they do, and they will respond with appreciation, respect and willing effort. 

That's just good and wise leadership.