Alice’s Restaurant Recognition Program

A brief comment and email exchange with one of this sites readers is the impetus for this post.

The reader works in a company that has been hit by the recent economic buffering and was wondering how to get the company and its leaders to see how hard they are working and the contributions they are making. He said that the undercurrent was "be happy you have a job."

Tough.

I'm guessing the alarm clock is the worst sound in the world to these folks Monday through Friday. 

So what to do?

Listen To Arlo Guthrie

For those who grew up on Nintendo "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" (commonly referred to simply as "Alice's Restaurant") is Arlo Guthrie's musical monologue based on a true story that began on Thanksgiving Day 1965. 

While written to protest the war in Viet Nam and the military draft – I've usurped a section to illustrate how you, in what ever role you have at your company, can impact your own performance and those around you.

From the song… (sorry for any offense the words may cause – but I'm just the messenger…)

"You know, if one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and they won't take him. And if two people, two people do it, in harmony, they may think they're both faggots and they won't take either of them. And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. And friends they may thinks it's a movement."

Begin Your Movement

• Send emails to your team members who have worked hard or exceeded minimum requirements – copy their boss. Thank them for their work and their effort. Keep at it. Some of your team will see that effort and will start doing the same.
   
• Make sure you mention to others that they can really pep someone up if they send a thank you email or note to someone.
   
• Send a thank you to your boss – remember – they need validation as much as you do. Sometimes getting a note from someone who works for you jumps starts your efforts around recognition as well.
   
• Send a note to a wife/husband/significant other saying thanks for their understanding and their support during tough times – I have done this in the past and the return is immense. Just be sure you know the person well enough to know that you’re not crossing some line
   
• Use the growing “recognition” culture (hopefully it will grow from your initial foray) in your staff meetings to highlight the work you and your team are doing.

In other words, you can start the process yourself.
If management won’t recognize the effort you can. 

No one ever needed permission to say thank you. Your effort to recognize others will not only energize them – but you as well.

Remember – "You Can Get Anything You Want At Alice's Restaurant"

For those with 18 minutes to spare (sound quality is a bit poor):  (email subscribers may have to click through to see video)