reveal & remark: a leader’s version of the sunscreen song

What was going on in that last post? My bet is that by this time next week you will be amazed at how much that message you sent has impacted the performance of the teammate you reached out to. 

Telling people what they’re doing well is the surest way to (a) help people identify productive behaviors that they should replicate in all their work; (b) give people a blueprint for future success; (c) boost people’s identity as a high-performer, and thus the effort they pour into work; (d) create positive feelings of growth, momentum, and success; and (d) help under-performers identify patterns that will lead them out of the dark.

“Reveal and Remark”: Habitually telling people what they are doing well is the single most powerful move a leader can make.

I say “reveal” because, per (a) and (b) above, it’s not always obvious to people what behaviors they’re doing well that you think they should replicate. I say “remark” (and not “celebrate”, “effuse”, or “throw a huge party”) because all it takes is a simple acknowledgement of the positive, repeatable behavior. No need to over-hype it. No need to be over-sanguine. These would come off as insincere, would set too high a threshold for what is worth acknowledging, and would prove too onerous for you to do religiously. Just (1) notice every good thing you see your team doing, and (2) tell them what they’re doing well. Habituate it. That’s it.

Your job is Reveal & Remark as much as you possibly can.

Oh yeah, why the sunscreen reference? It’s because if I could offer you only one tip for leadership, recognition would be it.

-Ben