Now, About Recognition and Feedback

Satisfaction in life is heavily influenced by what we receive from others—by what they say to us regarding their perception of us and what we do. What others think means more to us than many of us will admit.

Two key forms of receipt are recognition and feedback: the former is triggered upon reflection; the latter we receive with immediacy. Both are important.

We all hope for appropriate levels of recognition and feedback.

Recognition

Rewards we seek throughout life, and recognition is the best reward.

This is never more poignantly illustrated than via the simple thanks we receive in the recognition of what results have meant—whether to others, a particular venture, or general efficiencies created. On the surface, recognition may be as plain as positive feedback, but true recognition is a gift bestowed beyond prediction. In retrospect it was deserved, but the value of the acts that generated the recognition is only counted by the effort invested in the act of recognising someone. Good deeds have meaning in what they mean for others.

Can there be a better gift than recognition?

When we issue the recognition, we’ve invested creative thought regarding what to recognise and how to effectively do it—to maximise blessing for the person receiving it. The blessing bestowed comes right back at us as we see the effect of encouragement; those who bless are blessed. We see how just a pinch of kudos lights the receiver’s inspired wick and their joy burns strongly.

In receipt it’s a boost. We love spending time around people who recognise us in truth. These people are thankful; they prove it by their investment in looking for others’ good. Of course, some of the best recognition is to be left alone and not criticised, like when people are especially patient with us.

Recognition really is an understated power for life.

Feedback

Giving feedback requires momentary reflective vision, courage and effort.

Many people would rather let it slide, but the person committed to the loving truth will commit the thought and time to express what another person could benefit from. All good feedback is constructive, whether considered positive or negative. It has the receiver’s future, and their learning, at heart. The person providing feedback can also, preferably, weigh the receiver’s reaction, particularly for negative feedback.

But the feedback we are most interested in is the positive variety. There are so many more opportunities to give positive feedback than negative, usually. In a world that thrives in the negative, how nice to receive positive feedback.

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Gifts come no better than kindness issued in a timely “well done”; enhancement is gained by creatively expressing such truth. Beyond flattery, well deployed recognition and feedback promote the likelihood that good deeds will be repeated, and they ignite joy in the receiver.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.