My birthday fell on a Saturday this year. When Dan (my husband) asked me what I wanted to do, in practical Hillary style, I listed all the projects I had planned to power through before celebrating with our kids and grandkids that evening. If you know me, getting things done always makes me feel great, and spending time with family is even better! 
That list slowly evaporated as I fielded calls and texts throughout the day and opened cards that I had saved to open on my birthday. Every one of them was from someone who was simply reaching out to say, in a variety of ways, I remember you. I know this is your day. You matter to me.
Those simple expressions made me feel remembered, celebrated, and loved in the fullest possible sense.
It was a great day. My birthday lands on a Saturday every once in a while, so I’m usually preoccupied with the rigors of a business day and don’t take time to answer calls and texts or reflect.
As this July 4th approaches, marking our nation’s 250th birthday, I’ve been thinking about that special Saturday and what these two very different milestones have in common. 
Recognition Principle: Intention, Not Expense
The calls and texts I received that day were neither expensive nor elaborate. What made them feel special was the intention behind each one. Someone paused their day, thought of me, and acted on that thought. That moment of being held in someone’s attention long enough to reach out is genuine, no money required.
This principle underlies the most effective employee and client recognition programs I’ve seen over more than three decades in this field. Sincerity, timing, and specificity trump the size of the gesture.
A Nation Built with Intention
Now for the second birthday. Our founding fathers were intentional. They had a vision. They established guardrails. They built a framework designed to last and grow, and they trusted that future generations would carry it forward and strengthen the nation. 
Our country’s success depends on the engagement of its citizens, just as an organization relies on engaged employees to carry out its leader’s vision. Thriving organizations deliberately built a culture in which their people:
- feel connected to something larger than themselves;
- believe their contributions matter; and
- know they are heard and seen.
Like culture, you can’t see freedom; you can feel it; you know when you have it, and when it is being threatened. When you walk through the door of an organization, you can quickly sense a culture of engagement or a lack thereof. Neither is handed to you in an employee handbook or a founding document; you feel them in how people treat one another when no one is watching.
Every State. Every Person.
Several of our clients have chosen to create a recognition moment around the U.S.A.’s 250th birthday. They wanted to recognize that our country is special. We found two extraordinary books, America the Beautiful (National Geographic), and Treasured Lands by QT Luong, that share a common truth: Every state in this union has something distinctive to offer. The photography is an exquisite reminder that the breadth and beauty of this country is not found in any one place, but rather in the total of 50 different stories.
The same is true of every organization. Each person brings something that no one else does. Every long-tenured employee owns institutional and personal knowledge that they have gained, information that can’t be found in a manual. Each new hire brings a unique perspective to your culture.
How are you making the people you lead feel like a valued part of the whole? How do you ensure no one feels like a replaceable part that goes unnoticed?
Recognition is the answer…one person at a time.
Legacy Is Built on the Moments People Remember
While those birthday cards and calls wouldn’t make headlines, they are the exemplary fabric of the life I have woven for myself. Likewise, the gestures that build and sustain a culture are not always the grand annual events or the elaborate programs, although those matter, too. It’s the consistent, small signals that say, “You are seen. You are heard and respected for your contributions and efforts, large and small!”
As you think about how you want your team and your clients to feel, consider what your organization’s recognition practice actually communicates. Is it saying, “I see you”? Is it saying, “Your contribution is part of something bigger than any one quarter’s results”? Is it creating the kind of moments people will remember long after turning the calendar page?
Our country’s story was written by people who heeded the call to contribute to something they passionately believed in. Your culture continues to write its story, guided by what your people believe about the current chapter.
Here to Help You Write Your Next Chapter
If you’re ready to move from transactional recognition to something more strategic and more human, let’s start the conversation. We help organizations make the people who matter most feel like they matter. Call 800-742-6800 or email us today. For more insights, sign up for our monthly newsletter at askhillarys.com (bottom right corner of the page).
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