You've spent hours working the best for your abilities only for it to go unnoticed. Yes, I have been there! Why do we feel the need to be praised at work and most importantly, why is this only our source of motivation to work harder? Also, how can we let our managers know that the odd compliment such as a shout-out in a team meeting or just acknowledgement would make a difference to our moods and productivity? Pride, pleasure and increased feelings of self-esteem are all common reactions to being paid a compliment or receiving positive feedback all because being praised triggers the release of dopamine which is a neurotransmitter that helps control the reward and pleasure centres of the brain. So of course, there is no secret as to why being praised feels good. But when we do not get enough of it or any, how do we exactly deal with this?
Differences Between Praising and Motivation
I can understand that not having enough acknowledgement or praises within the workplace could put a damper on us and our ability to work. It can make us feel unappreciated and unseen and that is not a nice feeling. At work, it feels good to know that we are performing in line with what is expected of us but, sometimes we feel like we only work harder just to be praised more at work or seen by our boss and I think we will exhaust ourselves just by doing so. We need to be motivated with the right reasons and the right reasons can help motivate you into working harder for yourself. I understand for many people there may be a craving for praises and can be a reflection of their self-worth. This may not be necessarily a bad thing as it serves as a reminder that they are worthy, they belong and most importantly I think everyone just wants to feel appreciated right? I know I do sometimes of course. So here are some pointers on how we can appreciate ourselves once in a while.
1. Treat yourself to a 5-minute coffee break/treat
Giving yourself little treats throughout your workday can have a huge impact on your mental wellbeing. It just shows you know you did well, and you are rewarding yourself for the hard work you did. It is self-appreciation at its finest and it is such a lovely way to treat yourself.
2. Mindfulness Meditation
This does not have to be a full-on mindfulness medication of course! Meditation is merely focusing purely on yourself and being mindful. It is so important to take a step back from work and reality and connect back with your mind and body and just refreshing it. Working our brains too much can cause exhaustion, and this can reflect on our physical wellbeing as well which can make us feel tired and restless. Therefore, please remember to be mindful of your mind and take care of it. I do this every day at noon for 5 minutes exactly because it is midday and I feel like by then I need a reset on my mind, and I can tell you it has been working!
3. Belief System
I believe that we need to look into our belief systems and start to question our belief systems and revaluate our values and work on replacing them with more of a growth and resilience mindset. I remember talking to my friend about this and how some people go out of their way to work harder only to impress the big boss but once the big boss goes away, they stop. This will exhaust you mentally. It is important to recognise
the difference between working for yourself and working for others. Your beliefs are the root, and it is so important to have a great belief system. Yes, it is normal to want to be praised but just because something is considered normal does not always mean a good thing. It can go both ways. When we get to a point where this is now affecting our mental wellbeing this is where you need to put a stop to this belief and just take a step back. Learn to appreciate yourself and the work you do and be proud!
How Can We Let Employers Know This is Important?
We need to talk it out really to our managers or boss about how we would love to get feedback on our work to meet expectations and understanding if you are on the right track. Explain to your manager/boss that you would love to receive feedback on your work, to help you meet expectations, understand when you are on the right track, and grow with the role. They will most likely appreciate your openness to develop your skills and ability. Also, remember to be in touch with yourself too, and just check out whenever you need a breather and just know you are doing the best you can and that is enough.
That is the chai for today.
Nish xo