Motivation - It Starts with Acknowledgement

Acknowledgement is about recognition or attention from another person. It can be physical such as - a pat on the back, a touch or a handshake. It can also be psychological such as - a word of praise, a compliment, even a "hello!" It can even just be time spent with the person.

Physical and psychological attentions are absolutely vital to human beings. We all need it and we need it every day. However, it must be said that every human being has a different level of need for acknowledgement.

If you looked at it on a scale of 0 to 100 then there are a small number of people who'd be low on the scale. These are the people who cut themselves off from others, the hermits amongst us. The majority of people however, are pretty far up that scale.

The need for acknowledgement is something that's programmed into us. Babies and children have a huge need for physical acknowledgement. You can see that demonstrated by the way they reach out for you, how they want to be held and cuddled. Research has shown that infants who are denied this physical acknowledgement can suffer both in their physical and emotional growth.

As children develop their use of language, they start to need psychological attention as well. I'm sure you've experienced children coming to you, with something they've drawn or made, looking for your praise. As we grow into adulthood we become more sophisticated; however our need for acknowledgement doesn't go away, we just seek it in a different way.

We send out all sorts of signals just to get acknowledgement. We "casually" mention some achievement - "I've managed to reduce my golf handicap" - "My boss has asked me to take on more responsibility" or - "Our child has just passed their exams."

We take other actions to meet our need for acknowledgement. Do you remember the TV programme Cheers about the regular customers in a Boston bar? The show's signature theme had a line in it which went something like - "Everybody goes where everybody knows your name!" The characters in Cheers don't just go to Cheers for a drink; they know that when they walk in the door someone, probably the person behind the bar will acknowledge them.

I was speaking to a participant on one of my seminars and he was telling me all about his role as President of his local fishing club. All the things he had to do, the newsletter to write, the competitions to organise and the meetings to attend. I asked him if he got paid for it. "Oh no" was the reply, "I do it because I like it." Of course he does it because he likes it and no doubt it's a lot of work and takes up lots of his time. However, the acknowledgement he receives from this is massive.

I've known elderly parents who exaggerate illness just to get their family to visit and spent time with them; they just want acknowledgement.

A human's need for acknowledgement is so strong that they will sometimes behave badly to get that acknowledgement. I'm sure you're aware of children who behave badly in school just to get attention - well, adults do it too. That person in your team who gives you all sorts of problems which are often difficult to understand, may just be seeking acknowledgement.

The people you manage need acknowledgement and spending quality time with them is the way to do it. Just to be clear - acknowledgement isn't just about praising people; it's about spending time, listening and speaking with them.

Discover how you can generate more business by motivating your team! Alan Fairweather is the author of "How to get More Sales by Motivating Your Team" This book is packed with practical things you can do to get the best out of your people. Visit http://www.howtogetmoresales.com

GraphOn hires VP, product management and marketing Bizjournals.com GraphOn Corp. said Monday it has hired Christoph Berlin as its vice president of product management and marketing. The Santa Cruz-based company (OTCBB:GOJO), develops cloud application delivery and Web-enabling technologies. GraphOn Appoints Christoph Berlin as Vice President of Product Management and ...MarketWatch (press release) all 9 news articles »

Ball State University Selects Campus Management's Talisma CRM and Fundraising ... MarketWatch (press release) 6, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Campus Management Corp., a leading provider of enterprise software products and services for educational institutions, today announced that Ball State University will implement its TalismaŽ CRM and Fundraising ... and more »

Bloomberg

Most Takeovers Since 2007 Seen Spurred by Data Torrent: Tech Bloomberg Enlarge image Most Takeovers Since 2007 Seen Spurred by Data Torrent Most Takeovers Since 2007 Seen Spurred by Data Torrent Tony Avelar/Bloomberg Hewlett-Packard Co., Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. led a 36 percent gain in technology deals last year. Data torrent may spur biggest M&A frenzy since '07San Francisco Chronicle all 7 news articles »

Bloomberg

Losses of Japanese Electronic Firms Worsen Bloomberg Enlarge image Panasonic Reports Highest Loss Ever Panasonic Reports Highest Loss Ever Daniel Acker/Bloomberg Attendees look over Panasonic Corp. products at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, US Play Video Play ... Sony, Panasonic Forecast Worsening Losses as Samsung DominatesBusinessWeek Panasonic yearly net loss to top $9 billionPakistan Daily Times Panasonic headed for record $10B lossToronto Sun all 108 news articles »

Mr. Carlos A. Contreras Appointed President, International Operations ... MarketWatch (press release) MIAMI, FLORIDA, Feb 06, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- BioNitrogen Corp. (BION) (pinksheets:BION), developer of a revolutionary patent-pending technology for converting renewable and abundant biomass waste into high-nitrogen urea and urea fertilizer, ... and more »

HedgeCo.net

Former Sailfish Partner Naro Launches New Firm FINalternatives Sal Naro, former co-managing partner Sailfish Capital, is launching a new asset management firm, Coherence Capital Partners. The launch follows a management buyout of the core insurance business at Jefferson National Financial Corp., where Naro was a ... Hedge Fund Manager Sal Naro Launches Coherence Capital Partners LLCHedgeCo.net Former UBS fixed income head establishes New York boutiqueInvestment Europe Hedge Fundie Naro Launches Coherence CapitalAdvanced Trading Hedge Fund Net all 9 news articles »

Taiwan smartphone maker HTC sees Q1 revenue lagging Reuters By Clare Jim | TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan smartphone maker HTC Corp expects to post much lower-than-expected revenue in the first quarter, underscoring analyst views that it will face another weak quarter and an uphill struggle to prove to investors it ... and more »

Bryn Mawr to Acquire Philadelphia-Area Trust Company Bank Technology News Bryn Mawr Bank Corp. in Pennsylvania is acquiring a Philadelphia-area wealth management firm from Boston Private Financial Holdings Inc. and the firm's management group. The deal for Davidson Trust Co. in Devon, Pa., announced late Friday, ... and more »

DIARY-S&P 500 EARNINGS MONTH AHEAD Reuters ... 0.72 07 Feb AMC Q4 Life Technologies Corp 1.04 22 0.90 07 Feb AMC Q4 Lincoln National Corp 1.00 19 0.92 07 Feb AMC Q4 Western Union Co 0.40 27 0.38 08 Feb BMO Q4 Apartment Investment and Management Co -0.30 5 -0.33 08 Feb AMC Q4 Akamai Technologies ... and more »

Tranzbyte Corporation Acquires ProximaRF MarketWatch (press release) Altitude Organic Corporation has launched its new management company strategy in Arizona. The company can manage, staff, consult, and provide uniquely branded products and concepts to medical marijuana dispensaries using a limited liability agreement. and more »