News anchor Jose Diaz Balart concludes his program on MSNBC-TV every day with a dose of gratitude that leaves his audience feeling valued and validated, saying:
Thank you for the
Jose Diaz Balart, MSNBC-TV
PRIVILEGE of your time.
The dictionary says the word Privilege stems from the Latin privilegium which means the law as it applies to one person.”
So in effect Mr. Diaz Balart thinks of his audience as comprised for individuals who personally afford him their personal attention to tune in to his news program.
In the process, Mr. Diaz execises a key leadership skill : personally connecting to each person in his audience. In fact Army 4-star General Norm Schwarzkopf noted the discerning behavior of leaders who can see each tree in the forest. General Schwarzkopf said:
“I have seen competent leaders who stood in front of a platoon and all they saw was a platoon. But great leaders stand in front of a platoon and see it as 44 individuals, EACH of whom has aspirations, EACH of whom wants to live, EACH of whom wants to do good.”
And each of whom needs to be treated PERSONALLY with dignity and respect. That’s why the most influential leaders, in treating others individually, are more apt to reward their employees SPECIFICALLY not simply award them generally. They realize the difference between actively rewarding individuals for their effort (thank you for the privilege of your time and effort) and passively awarding (thanks for watching this news program as Mr. Diaz could have said.)
Awards are presented.
Rewards are earned.
Awards honor past performance.
Rewards incent future performance.
Awards are event focused.
Rewards are individually focused.
Award shows always reflect as much on the awarder as on the awardee. (Think Oscars). But in rewarding another for specific effort and productive achievement, the spotlight is only on the person being rewarded. Personally. With an implied sense of appreciation and a heart-felt thank you for the privilege of their time working on this specific project.
The leadership lesson is clear. Focus on your employees as individuals. Reward them with your dignity and respect. And cherish the PRIVILEGE of having each of them on your team. For more ideas on rewarding vs. awarding your employees, pick up a copy of LOVING Like a Leader, a Leadership Mints Series book
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Instead the editor reached into his desk before the reporter could sit down. The editor quickly tossed a small plastic bag toward the reporter who instinctively put up his right hand and snared it right out of the air. For a second, he thought it might be a bag of pot that someone planted in his desk.
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