Missing the mark

Ever feel like you're trying your best to show genuine care and appreciation for your employees, but it's just not hitting the mark? Join me in this video as we explore this common challenge through a relatable story and consider ways to level up your leadership game through recognition that truly resonates with your team.

BONUS: Take this concept to the next level with my free Languages of Appreciation guide.

• Read the video transcript

  Most of the leaders that I get to work with and coach and train genuinely care about their employees, they want to make their employees feel cared for. The problem is sometimes we think that we are communicating that care and that appreciation well, but it's not actually resonating with the employee or with the team member.

  I'll tell you a quick story. So I am a doer. I am constantly wanting to be productive and as such, the primary way that I show my love and my care for others is through acts of service, constantly doing things to take care of others.

  And so every Sunday afternoon I spend a good chunk of time meal planning, grocery shopping, and then prepping food for the week. It's kind of the only way that I feel like we can survive the week with healthy food and it feels like a way to really care for my family. They do appreciate it.

  But this last Sunday, at one point my husband kind of came on into the kitchen to chat with me for a little bit and instead of appreciating that, I felt irritated. All of a sudden he was in my way. He was in my space while I was trying to move quickly in the kitchen.

  How unfair. Right? And I realized after the fact, something that I already know, but I just needed that reminder is that he, while he appreciates the meals for sure, the way that he truly feels cared for and loved is through quality time spent together, me actually slowing down enough to just sit and talk with him. And I'm terrible at it. I'm constantly on the go.

  And so this is your reminder today to notice, to be aware of how is it that you are trying to show your care and appreciation and love for your colleagues and your employees at work? And is that actually connecting with them? Is it actually resonating? Does it actually fill their cup in the way that you want it to? It takes an elevated approach to really think about how can I best connect with them in a way that will matter the most to them.