Not being appreciated

For twenty-five years, Johnson had arrived at work at 9 a.m. on the dot. He had never missed a day and was never late.

On one particular day, 9 a.m. passed without Johnson’s arrival, it caused a sensation. All work ceased and the boss himself, looking at his watch and muttering, came out into the corridor.

Finally, at 10:00 a.m., Johnson showed up, clothes dusty and torn, his face scratched and bruised, his glasses bent. He limped painfully to the time clock, punched in, and aware that all eyes were upon him said, “I tripped and rolled down two flights of stairs in the subway. I nearly killed myself.”

His boss replied skeptically, “And to roll down two flights of stairs took you a whole hour?”

Some bosses just do not know how to lead their people. The good thing is that these hard-nosed old school bosses are now but a handful.

In my Level Up Leadership seminars, I usually harp on the two main reasons why good people leave their companies. The first reason and the most popular one is that the person who left could not get along with his or her boss. The second reason is that the person who has labored long and hard feels unappreciated.

Today, I would want to present a different angle. The question now is do we need to be appreciated all the time? Do we hunger and crave for recognition such that when the accolade and the praises do not come we feel slighted, offended, rejected and insulted that would rob us from our sense of peace and calm? If this is the case, then the problem does not lie with the bosses but with us.

I worked hard and started near the bottom of the corporate food chain. As I look back to the early years of my career, the words “Inspiration, Engagement, Motivation” were all none existent. The only thing that inspired me is the knowledge that I have done my job and I get to keep it.

I had to work hard, make sure my bosses are happy with the result. I had to fight my way to the top and compete against senior managers who were protecting their turf. I had to go through a process of hard work and labor. Never ever receiving a word of praise and compliment but knowing that a good job done and delivered is its own reward.

Basketball coach legend John Wooden offered advice to his players saying: “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

Marcus Aurelius reminded himself says, “Ambition means tying your well-being to what other people say or do… Sanity means tying it to your own actions.”

As long as we do and provide excellent work, there is no need for others to validate it. In other words, do your work, do it well, then let go and let God.

Here is a story told of an encounter between two men of contrasting means and character. Alexander the Great was the most powerful man in the world and he had a conversation with Diogenes the famous cynic and a poor man.

Diogenes was lying down on the ground and enjoying the summer air. Standing in front of him was Alexander and as he stood over him asked what he might be able to do for him.

Diogenes would have been able to ask for anything but his reply was: “Stop blocking my sun.”

Ouch! Imagine how this must have hurt and offended this young ruler who always wanted to prove how important he was?

Robert Louis Stevenson later observed about this meeting, “It is a sore thing to have labored along and scaled arduous hilltops, and when all is done, find humanity indifferent to your achievement.”

I have news for you. It will happen. Maybe your boss will never give you any compliment. Maybe the numbers would not awe your business partner. Maybe others will badmouth you and sabotage your work. Maybe even your spouse would never be impressed and neither would your children. Maybe the audience would not even clap. But these are not important.

What is important is that we have to be able to continue to deliver excellent work and soon enough, our work will speak for us. And when it happens, trust me, the noise will be very loud.

(Bestselling book author Todd Henry, Francis Kong, Vic Gregorio will discuss passion, productivity and purpose in this year’s most exciting conference “Die Empty” on Nov. 9, 2017 at Samsung Hall, SM Aura. For registration or inquiries contact April at +63928-559-1798).