Merriam-Webster defines RECOGNITION as acknowledging an individual’s due diligence or effort(s) with appreciation … (i.e., with a special emphasis on “appreciation” – that’s my personal add-on). I’m sure that over your career, at one time or another, you have heard the words … “Great job!”, “Well done!” or even better, “You are such an awesome teammate, I just love working on projects with you!” Doesn’t it just feel great to hear those few simple words filter through your ears – from time to time by a colleague, superior, boss or client? Yes, it sure does … I know it does to me. After receiving those complimentary words, we usually get a spring in our step, run a little faster and jump a little higher. Receiving positive comments and/or rewards normally helps us to maintain a sense of motivation, strive for improvement and continue to do the best we can possibly do.

By dusting off and referencing my old Management Psychology text book from college, (yes, many, many years ago Amanda & Lee), I remember studying about “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”. Psychologist, Abraham Maslow developed a five (5) step theory on the needs of human beings which lay out the basic components of life that people need in order to survive and thrive. Maslow went onto theorize that these needs have to be fulfilled before an individual could move on to the next level or stage.

In case I have peaked your interest and you want to know more about “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”, the progression of these needs are as follows:

1.) Physiological Needs are biological related items that you need to stay alive … air, food & water. Needless to say, these needs rank as the strongest needs of all because an individual requires these things to survive.
2.) Safety Needs – After fulfilling physiological needs, individuals seek security. While adults usually display security conscientiousness during emergency siuations, children on the other hand constantly demonstrate signs of needing to feel safe … on a more regular basis.
3.) Needs of Love, Affection and Belonging – To satisfy this phase and in order to move on to the next level, individuals must promote self worth and value by giving and receiving attention, care and support to and with others. This display of affection creates a positive sense of belonging.
4.) Self Esteem Needs – After satisfying the physiological needs, safety needs and needs of love etc., the need for self identification becomes important. Naturally, all individuals possess a desire for self-respect as well as a need for respect from others. On the contrary, when these needs are not satisfied, there is a feeling of frustration, inferiority, weakness, helplessness and worthlessness.
5.) Self-Actualization Needs are realized after the previous four (4) needs are met. Maslow further characterized self-actualization as an individual being and doing what he or she was born to do.

Food for thought:
o So, how does RECOGNITION play out in your workplace?
o Do individuals seem to be motivated less by basic needs and more for something that creates personal fulfillment, esteem and self-actualization?
o Are individuals motivated by things other than money often through other rewards?

Our hard work and efforts result in paycheck compensation which helps us to survive in society. However, the opportunity for an individual to thrive and demonstrate his/her ‘best side’ is an incredibly powerful motivator.
Recognition is not only good for your career but it’s also great for your health.

In closing, President John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

In our 2 year old home we have a two-story stairwell that has been waiting to be painted since the day we moved in. I was able to talk my father into making the 2 hour trip to our house to help us with this challenge.

He brought with him a heavy duty extension ladder, a very sturdy 2” x 12” x 12’ plank and a gallon of Floetrol. I already had in my arsenal all of the paint brushes, rollers and paint that would be needed. One new item I had recently purchased, but had not used yet, was a Shur-line adjustable extension pole I purchased at Lowe’s. The pole attaches to the end of a paint roller handle in order to reach taller heights.

My father set the ladder on one of the stair treads and leaned it back against the back wall of the stairwell. Then he set the plank on one of the ladder rungs and the other end of the plank set on the stair landing. To raise the height of the plank up a little more to be able to reach the top of the wall, we then gathered a few scrap pieces of 4”x 4” posts that we had recently cut and set those under the end of the blank on the landing.

We did some patching and sanding of nail pops and other imperfections on the dry wall before starting any painting. Then he proceeded to trim around the tops of the walls at the ceiling and around the doorframes. Because of his years of experience he could do this freehanded, but for most people, you may want to tape your baseboards, doorframes and the ceiling where it meets the top of the wall. He then rolled on the first coat of paint and let it dry over night. The next day he took the Floetrol and mixed it with the paint and then proceeded with the second coat.

This was the first time I had heard of Floetrol, but I got to see it in use. Floetrol is a latex paint additive. It helps to eliminate brush and roller marks and allows paint to adjust to extreme hot or cold temperatures and even high humidity (great for bathroom applications). It also extends the drying time of paint, which can be handy when you are trying to create faux finish effects on a wall, or in the case of my project, paint a wall that spans two floor levels.

FLOETROL AT LOWE’S

My father used the brand new Shur-line extension pole to reach all the way up the wall to the ceiling. After he used the adjustable pole, he said that it really made this particular job much easier. He was able to reach all the way to the top of the wall and as he drew the roller down toward the stairs, he was able to retract the pole to a shorter length in the narrow stairwell. He liked it so much he wanted to know where I bought it because he was going to go pick one up.

SHUR-LINE EASY REACH EXTENSION POLE

In short, when tackling a hard to paint area do your research, tap the minds and experiences of those you know with more knowledge about painting challenging spaces and have the right tools.