Recognition is a powerful tool that can encourage and maintain a new, positive behavior. When you are a positive force for others you are quick to recognize and destructive criticism is the last thing on your mind.

Often in my management and leadership programs I’ll ask the participants if they believe recognition is an important skill to change behavior and show appreciation. After the hands go up and there is general agreement I ask the same participants to show me when and how to apply recognition. Suddenly the room goes silent. It has been my experience that less than 20% of managers know how to apply this valuable people skill. My question is if these same mangers don’t apply recognition in the workplace how can they do the same at home with their spouses, friends and children? We have recognition deprivation in our society. Recognition can move mountains!

Some confuse recognition with the rah-rah hype. Hype is when someone continues to back slap with the same meaningless comments repeated over and over again. This approach may work for the short term but over time is often perceived as superficial, insincere and can be counter productive. Recognition when applied properly is a powerful people skill that managers, teachers, parents, spouses and others can use to show appreciation, change or re-enforce positive behavior. aidim.