Gary’s November Gems – The Importance of Giving Attention

Bragging is bad. That’s what most of us were raised to believe. People who brag crave attention.  Perhaps it’s because they’re narcissists or they sadly didn’t get enough attention as children. I got lots of attention at home – usually for the wrong reasons.

I’m much better at giving compliments than receiving them. So imagine how uncomfortable I was at the recent conference’s closing night Gala when I heard my name called from the stage. I was called to the stage to accept the Hall of Fame Award.  Leading up to that moment, I felt something was up as I noticed people looking my way as the speaker described why this awardee was chosen.  As she went on, I slowly shrank in my chair like a grade nine student avoiding the teacher’s question.

“This year’s CAM-X Hall of Fame inductee is Gary Blair of i24 Call Management Solutions.”

I don’t remember the walk to the podium nor what I said, but I’ve since heard that I was surprisingly coherent and, in fact, quite eloquent. Fortunately, there’s a video of my acceptance speech that confirms that.

Recognising others’ qualities has been foremost in my mind lately. The keynote speaker at that same conference was  Sarah McVanel. She’s an internationally respected expert on employee recognition.  I first met Sarah four years prior while attending another conference where she gave the keynote address. We have since been in touch and recently invited her to address our employees. It was a massive success.

One of the outcomes was that everyone had an opportunity to receive and give attention in a display of group engagement. She was a hit, and everyone was captivated and motivated throughout the day. Sarah is a big supporter of i24 as well as a vocal evangelist for our own “WOW” recognition program, which was created to make everyone feel that they matter.

You don’t have to be a star to warrant attention; you need only live your life according to the golden rule. In a previous gem, Gary’s May Gems – A Clarion Call for Civility, I wrote,  ”We need to be kind to reap kindness. We need to make civility contagious.”

Many people deserve attention. Every person has a story and a gift to share. As I age, I feel wiser but also less visible. It’s as if no one appreciates how worldly I am. 😉 As far as I know, my birth certificate didn’t have a best-before date stamped on it. We make assumptions about people all the time based on their appearance, their manner or their ethnicity. From those observations, we calculate how much time and attention they’re worth.

Everyone feels invisible sometimes, employees included. This is especially true of those who are invested in what they do. They work towards fulfilling the vision of the company. These are the people we need to give more attention to. Instead, we tend to respond to the “squeaky wheels”.

The “great resignation” and “quiet quitting” are buzzwords we see everywhere as employers in every industry struggle to adapt to this “new reality”. Life is a cacophony of  “ Look at me! Look at me!” on every social platform imaginable. It seems everyone wants affirmation and validation, and they’ll accept whatever kind of attention that brings it to them. Unfortunately, attention can be ephemeral. It fades as someone appears louder, prettier or more outrageous.

I find that those who give without expectation of recognition always deserve our attention the most.

Your November Gems

[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.’ – Susan Sontag.” quote=”‘Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.’ – Susan Sontag.” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.’ Charles R Swindoll.” quote=”‘The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.’ Charles R Swindoll.” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=” ‘Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention.’ – Jim Rohn.” quote=” ‘Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention.’ – Jim Rohn.” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.’ – Simone Weil.” quote=”‘Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.’ – Simone Weil.” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘An amazing thing happens when you stop seeking approval and validation; You find it.’-Mandy Hale.” quote=”‘An amazing thing happens when you stop seeking approval and validation; You find it.’-Mandy Hale.” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”Research indicates that employees have three prime needs: Interesting work, recognition for doing a good job, and being let in on things that are going on in the company. – Zig Ziglar” quote=”Research indicates that employees have three prime needs: Interesting work, recognition for doing a good job, and being let in on things that are going on in the company. – Zig Ziglar” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom. – Theodore Isaac Rubin” quote=”Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom. – Theodore Isaac Rubin” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” — William James” quote=”“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” — William James” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“You are a divine being. You matter, you count. You come from realms of unimaginable power and light, and you will return to those realms.” — Terence McKenna” quote=”“You are a divine being. You matter, you count. You come from realms of unimaginable power and light, and you will return to those realms.” — Terence McKenna” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” — Bernard Baruch” quote=”“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” — Bernard Baruch” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”You matter! You might be but one drop in a bigger ocean, but even that drop causes ripples which affect every other drop.” — Sue Krebs” quote=”You matter! You might be but one drop in a bigger ocean, but even that drop causes ripples which affect every other drop.” — Sue Krebs” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“Do not ever let anyone make you feel like you don’t matter.” — Michelle Obama” quote=”“Do not ever let anyone make you feel like you don’t matter.” — Michelle Obama” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“You matter, unless you multiply yourself by the speed of light squared, then you energy.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson” quote=”“You matter, unless you multiply yourself by the speed of light squared, then you energy.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination. – Carl Rogers” quote=”“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination. – Carl Rogers” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“You cannot hang out with negative people and expect to live a positive life. – Anon” quote=”“You cannot hang out with negative people and expect to live a positive life. – Anon” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘Be nice to each other. You can make a whole day a different day for everybody.’ – Richard Dawson” quote=”‘Be nice to each other. You can make a whole day a different day for everybody.’ – Richard Dawson” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.’ – John Andrew Holmes Jr.” quote=”‘There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.’ – John Andrew Holmes Jr.” theme=”style2″]