By Steve Moran

I want to believe that as a leader, you are already noticing the good things your people are doing. And if you’re not, this is exactly what we need to talk about.

As you go through your daily routine, as much as a leader’s day can be routine …

You notice …

Team members doing things that are wonderful. On occasion, they are really big, newspaper headline things; other times, most of the time, they are almost ordinary things that are “just doing their job” kinds of things, simply things that are extraordinary. 

Showing up early to work or meetings, contributing when they didn’t need to.  Offering an encouraging word to a customer, team member or vendor. 

You noticed; everyone noticed … 

Then one day, this person walks into your office to tell you he is quitting. A better job, $1.00 an hour more, a number you would have gladly matched.  You don’t get it, you thought he was happy.

It turned out he was happy, sort of … but also invisible.   

He was working hard, trying hard, doing the best he could, but as far as he could tell, no one noticed. Not his direct supervisor, not the managers further up the food chain. He felt unappreciated; worse, invisible.

Invisible people eventually leave to find a place where someone can see them.

You’ve heard of Mel Robbins’ “let them” theory. The idea is simple and useful: let people do what they’re going to do. Stop trying to control their reactions. Release the need to manage everything. Let them.

It works. It brings peace. It’s good advice.

But here’s the twist

What if we applied that same radical permission to more readily release those positive thoughts that we have about those we lead, those we work with? Like this:

If you think something good about someone on your team, something real, something true, let that out.

Say it. Today. Out loud or in writing. To their face or in a note. However it gets there, just make sure it gets there.

Because here’s the thing nobody talks about … most leaders are thinking good thoughts about the people they lead; the problem is that they keep those thoughts locked up inside their own heads. They assume people know. They figure they’ll mention it eventually. They tell themselves the person is probably fine.

Meanwhile, the person is wondering if anyone notices.

They always are.

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