Why is Social Praise an After Thought?

Consider the social world we now live in. All of your accounts, both professional and personal; your peers, colleagues, friends and family. We are all bombarded with social, but rarely think of praise.

FIRST AN OBSERVATION

Most people feel they have to stay at a job for a socially acceptable length to show stability. We all feel this differently depending on industry and age. The only professional connections we consistently make are on the job. With limited influence, finding great colleagues falls to chance. Without actively seeking interesting people and projects we leave career growth to chance. The chance that other individuals in a higher position will choose our relationships well.

THE TURN

As a social gesture it feels awkward to ask a colleague for credit. And even more uncomfortable, asking for praise. People want to be acknowledged. People want to think that their contribution was impactful enough that you simply had to tell others. Praise asked for isn’t praise. It’s simply accommodation or pity.

Then how do we change the process?

It’s simple really. Be the change you want to see. Trite, but true. It’s actually true in many social networks beyond the realm of business. In LinkedIn’s case, keep your profile up-to-date and then simply acknowledge your co-workers with endorsements. If you want to be a bit more systematic you can plan to work closely in conjunction with the wrap up of each project.

When endorsing or recommending your colleagues it’s important that there be some context. In the scenario outlined above, it is perfect timing after project wrap up and will have direct correlation with any and all freshly exhibited skills.

UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF EACH INTERACTION

A click is nothing. A click endorsement is more about the extension of a person’s brand and reputation. Secondly, a person may only have a limited knowledge of your extensive skill set. Be sure to represent yourself well and showcase your skills on your projects. Note that it still maybe difficult for co-workers to understand the vernacular of your work. Help them understand.

A written recommendation is considerably more work. Several keystrokes and a well-formed compliment can speak loudly for both parties. Consider someone on a more recent project. Who stood out? What qualities do they commonly exhibit? Also think about their position and future aspirations. This line of thinking should give you considerable content to write a rich recommendation.

Get Started

Start the process and draft a recommendation. Acknowledge a peer for a job well done. Try it on a one-to-one level first if your uncomfortable in public. Then send a email to their boss, or in your company’s intranet. This could be the start of social change at your company.