There are plenty of articles out there telling you how you can use recognition to get more out of your team members. But recognition isn’t about ROI, it’s about caring. If you simply use it as another management tactic, you’ll never experience its true value: knowing that you’veRecognition isn’t about ROI, it’s about caring. Click To Tweet touched the life of another person.
At Barry-Wehmiller, our Guiding Principles of Leadership Award is one of the ways we show our team members that we care about them, that they are valued and what they do makes a difference. Over the past few weeks a couple of past blog posts, here and here, have highlighted some of last year’s winners. Here are a few more truly human leaders – everyday people who make an extraordinary difference every day.
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Kendall Sanders, Mechanical Engineer, BW Container Systems, Loveland, CO
“It was nice to be recognized by my co-workers,” Kendall said. “It showed my sons that the times I missed their games and school functions for work were appreciated by others. It was great to share it with my wife and boys since they give up a lot for my hours here.”
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Renee Kundinger, Sheeter Sales Coordinator, BW Papersystems, Phillips, WI
“I’m lucky enough to work with a great group of people,” Renee said. “I feel they all deserve celebration and recognition, but since there are only a handful of people chosen each year, I was proud to be selected from within this little family we’ve built here. To me this honor is just a reflection of the people that make up our team. It was also very meaningful for me that this surprise recognition was with my family present.”
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Jesus Partida, Team Leader/ Operations, BW Container Systems, Romeoville, IL
In nominating Jesus, one of his colleagues said: “Jesus is doing an excellent job and has taken ownership. He shows true leadership with his actions on a daily basis and is dedicated and passionate to his role.”
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John Howcroft, Inventory Management, Hayssen Flexible Systems, Duncan, SC
John became, as he put it, a “Swiss Army knife kind of team member” on a new machinery support team, where he felt his work wasn’t as visible. But that wasn’t the case. “I became accustomed to being happy for other folks who got the recognition,” John said. “But when my boss handed me the keys to the Pace-Car Camaro in front of my wife and the whole company, it was really special. For Machinery Support I put in a ton of extra hours to create this entity, and it really meant a lot to be thanked in front of the whole company. Many of my coworkers told me ‘it was about time;’ but I was just happy to be amongst the company elite.”
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Patty Potter, Customer Service Specialist, Paper Converting Machine Company, Duncansville, SC
“Receiving this honor really came out of left field,” Patty said. “I was very overwhelmed and moved that my co-workers felt I deserved this type of recognition. When an honor comes from your leaders it is meaningful but to have the people that you work with every day bestow something like this means the world.”
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Kim Paolozzi, Quality Specialist/Equipment Engineering, PneumaticScaleAngelus, Clearwater, FL
“I have been nominated every year since the program has been in effect and have never won – always a bridesmaid, never a bride kind of deal,” Kim said. “While I was always happy to have been nominated I was also sometimes sad having not felt good enough to win. Well, the people I work with sent emails to fellow employees encouraging them to vote for me and gave them examples of why and how I work to and live the (Guiding Principles of Leadership.) Honestly, even if I had not won this past year, I would have been OK because I knew how much I am valued by the lives I touch each and every day. Our Team representative, Brooke, customized my win by including my family and contacted the Tampa Bay Rays who sent over a number of articles for the event. I cried and was honored beyond words. Today, even as I type this, I am crying remembering the feelings. I work every day to try and live up to the beautiful words my friends and co-workers bestowed on my behalf and the great honor.”
3 Comments
Thanks to each and every one of you for your commitment and stories. It lifts up my heart and inspires me to continue to show business leaders around the world that is definitely possible for business to do good in the world. Congratulations and “keep on”
Wow. I want to say thank you to the teams of people in our business who extend themselves for their team mates to make these celebrations possible! This is truly recognition “by the people, for the people.” A special thanks to those that capture the photos during the event- whomever you are- out in our many locations! Your photos help us feel part of the moment. These photos made my day!
I’ve always felt the GPL Program is definitely a great thing in BW. I’ve looked at it as how people look, feel about you as a person, looking at your character and connecting with your spirit. As a winner I wouldn’t take it lightly at all but as an honor & privilege as it truly is.