Leadership on a Napkin

When you acknowledge, recognize or give praise to others make it direct and personal:

1. Talk to them, not about them

• When you recognize another person don’t talk in third person, about the person you are acknowledging. Talk directly to them.
• For example: if you are acknowledging George in a team setting, don’t say “I’d like to acknowledge George for his hard work and dedication in this project.” Most people acknowledge this way.
• Instead, say: “George, I would like to acknowledge you for your hard work and dedication in this project”
• In order to acknowledge most powerfully use “I” and “you”, rather than “him”, “they” and “them.”

2.  Look and talk to them, not the audience

• When you acknowledge another person in front of others talk directly to them, not to the audience.
• It would help if when you acknowledge another person in front of others you look at the person your are acknowledging directly, not at the audience.
• Most people talk to the audience and trust that the person being acknowledged will get their acknowledgement.
• Instead, talk to the person you are acknowledging and trust that the audience will get the acknowledgement too.