Truth: Efforts in every team often go unnoticed.
It's easy to miss the painstaking work that doesn't make headlines or get paraded in the weekly team meeting.
I've been guilty of this, and perhaps you have too…
Why do we miss this?
- Role bias: some roles have a higher public profile.
- Effort bias: tasks that are routine can feel less impactful when everything works
- Team cohesion: it might just come down to poor systems within the team
There’s lots of nuance here to team structure, purpose, and complexity of course. No matter your situation, there’s a case for recognition.
Let’s be honest, it's the nitty-gritty, not-so-glamorous, behind-the-scenes work that keeps the team engine running smoothly.
So, how do we level the playing field?
- 360 recognition: highlight/acknowledge each others wins - it’s peers who are first to see the work we do.
- Transparency: open up processes so everyone can see how they fit in the bigger picture.
Find ways to highlight your team’s efforts.
Big or small, those efforts matter.