Peer Praise Dynamic Proves Most Valuable for Creatures (Human Factor by Patrick Sbarra)

Preparing an inspiring year-end team meeting had been a bit of challenge until I had a moment of insight and clarity while preparing a program to celebrate a record- setting year in 2006. 

In December of 2006, New Creature was wrapping up a year of exceptional performance, we were in the running for the Arkansas small business of the year and we were making significant changes in our strategy and structure. In addition we had rapidly expanded our head count and had a number of new employees still finding their voice within New Creature’s extremely vibrant culture. The Soderquist Center was shepherding us through the forming, storming, norming and performing process and often reminded us to find still time. It was in a moment of stillness that I was hit with the ah-ha on how to lead our year-end meeting.

I had determined that I wanted the focus of our year-end gathering to be on the recognition of each individual’s contributions. For fun I had accounting hand me a stack of $10 bills. The plan was for me to go one-by-one around the room, deliver an inspiring recount of each individual’s contributions and hand each person some cash from the stash. Not a bad plan.

However, I was haunted by the thought that I was overlooking something simple yet critical. And in a moment of stillness it hit me.

While quietly reviewing my notes the night before our meeting I was compelled to re-read New Creature’s tenets and list of Creaturisms, which are oft repeated sayings one would hear around our office. Common Creaturisms include: “Do on Monday what others have not even thought of until Wednesday,” “Be interested not interesting,” and “Don’t pull a Flintstone.” The Creaturism that spoke to me that night was “I am Third” which we had adopted from Kanakuk Camp. For us this means “My Teammates come first, the customer comes second and I come third.” The spirit being that if we put helping and encouraging one another first the customer will, by default, receive the absolute best care and service, the enterprise will thrive and the individual will be fulfilled.

In that moment of quiet reflection I had an epiphany. Instead of me parceling out the praise and cash I’d ask each team member to tell a positive story about a fellow teammate and hand over a single $10 bill as a small token of appreciation. The result of which was magic.

That morning all 20 Creatures were gathered in the conference room and probably anticipating that I would deliver some well-meaning speech about how well we had all done and how proud I was of them…yadda, yadda, yadda. After a few opening comments I quickly segued into, “Let’s spread some joy around the room today.” I turned to an employee, handed them a $10 bill and asked them to select another person in the room, tell them why you are proud of them and pass along the $10. In an instant the alertness and expectation in the room was heightened and one could immediately sense the anticipation.

This first person delivered an earnest and heartfelt praise of a fellow teammate and when the $10 was exchanged over the conference room table the room erupted in cheer. Everyone’s eyes met mine, as if to say pick me so I can share a great story. The second exchange went as the first but the third kicked-off a new dynamic. When I handed to this, one of our newest employees, a $10 bill to present a co-worker she asked for a second $10 bill. I’m thinking, ok, go with it. She proceeded to tell two teammates how much she appreciated what they had done to encourage her. Everyone was genuinely moved.

It proceeded like this for a few more rounds and we experienced another twist. I handed $10 to a person who had already received $10 from a colleague. This employee combined the $10 I had just given him with the $10 they were given by a co-worker and gave all $20, along with much praise, to a colleague from another business unit.

We now had employees wanting to give away all their money to others as they told moving stories of other people’s achievements and kindness.

I learned a valuable lesson that day. Once we have the right people on the bus it is best to trust in their earnest desire and ability to help foster a culture of high praise and high performance.

We repeated this same format in our 2007 year-end meeting. The camaraderie, comments and comedy inspired me more than ever.

(Patrick Sbarra is a founding partner and president of New Creature, a Rogers firm specializing in in-store marketing and merchandising for retail suppliers. He may be reached at [email protected].)