Recognition

For many years, I mistakenly thought the best presents we receive are those we get from ourselves. You know, the “to Brad, from Brad” kind. I remember the first bicycle I purchased for myself. Oh, it was cool! It was shiny black with three speeds. That was back in the days when all you had were one speed bicycles with a cute little basket on the front. Not too many years later, I was so proud when I saved every meager penny and dime I earned and purchased a 1971 red Pontiac LeMans to rumble around town in. To think that anyone would buy me even a small gift out of the goodness of their heart was foreign to me.

There are many of us here at Shawnee Mission Medical Center who, for whatever reason, believe we don’t need to receive recognition from anyone. We pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, albeit with a little self-indignation, and wander through our days wishing in some small way that someone would recognize the work we do on a daily basis.

The fourth question on our Associate Opinion Survey, which will soon be upon us, asks if we have received recognition in the past seven days. Not only here, but at most institutions, this question receives almost the lowest score on the survey. We like to be recognized, don’t we? We want someone, especially our boss, to acknowledge the work we do thank us either verbally or with a special thank you card. Most of us go about our daily business quietly without much fanfare doing what we came here to do.  

Still, there are many, many associates who yearn for even just one thank you, a touch on the arm, or a sincere look in the eye with an, “I’m glad you are here today.” Can you be that person to someone?

-Brad Hoffman