Award!! The word itself is enough to put anyone in celebration mode, isn't it.
Well, but then it doesn't come often and neither does it come easy.So, when one gets an award Celebration To Banta He :-)
Without much further ado , let me share one of the best moments in my carrier till now!!
I or rather We haz been bestowed with the "Best Development Team" award for the year FY08-09.YaY
I would be lying if i were to say it was expected since my team had been working their arse off for more than a year now.Being a 3 member team with one of them being the Project Manager, it sure was a commendable effort, but then we are paid to do that, aren't we.Hence, there was no expectation of sorts and that's what makes the award special.
However, i received the award yesterday night and i did not blog about it that time.Why?
One prime reason is the fact that the enormisity or let's say the importance did not dawn on me till now.It is crazy that sometimes we do not cherish what we have at the moment we receive them.However, the reasons to write this post is not to celebrate the achievement but to pour my alter-ego thoughts.
For the record, i am a technical consultant working for an IT services firm.So, the award is to appreciate my efforts that i poured in year in and year out.However, is the award going to truly motivate me? I don't know because I already feel burnt out.The project has taken its toll on me and i have passed the phase where a recognition would have boosted my morale to outdo myself.
What would have motivated me more is a PAT ON THE BACK during the course of the project.Is that too much to ask for? Moreover, i need recognition,motivation when i am feeling really flustered and low.So, one applause from my department itself would have done wonders for my morale more than being feliciated at the annual award ceremony.
But an annual award ceremony exposes your good work to a larger audience, isn't that good.You say?
It sure does but then given how my understanding of the reward-motivation theory works, it is imperative to understand when a reward will lead to maximum motivation.It is again a very individualistic thing and your opinions might differ.I just wanted to share what has been going on my mind ever since i received the award and to carry on the tradition of celebrating my every little achievement :-)
It is also ironical that the award came at the time when the award will not serve the purpose of motivating me to do what i have been doing to qualify for the award.However, I shall keep that for the next time when things materialize.
Have you ever gone through the same flow of thoughts anytime? Did you ever feel that timely small awards( eg: A verbal "Great Work") serves a better purpose.
PS:: I am in no way saying that I don't like awards and i didn't like this one:-) I love awards/rewards of all kinds and i am thankful to my employer for bestowing it on my team.I am going to cherish it for times to come.
Hey Ankit..first of all..Congrats!!!
Well...whatever u said is definately true. Sometimes, small-small things do wonders to us. But,still..ur hardwork got recognition..think of those, who don't get a single acclaim for any of their work..
Thanks:-)
I wanted to highlight the very fact of "Small is wonderful" .I am in no ways saying that i do not appreciate the award per say.I am elated but then i wrote it from a motivation perspective.Awards are motivation boosters and from my perspective they serve their purpose well when given on the right time!!
However, i understand that i should not be greedy and ask for everything i want:-)
Yeah...I agree fully. Awards..some or the other way, are one of the best ways of motivation.
It makes u proud...it makes u feel content..that ur work has got recognition.
Well written! I couldn't have said it better. What bothers me the most about working in an IT company is the utter lack of recognition and appreciation during the course of the project and the apathy shown by the management("I want this task completed by today! It doesn't matter if you haven't spent time with your family/don't have a social life/wanna go home early just this once"). And as soon as the project is completed(and delivered on time successfully blah), you are showered with a host of awards 'recognising' your hard work. How can it be motivational? What about all those nights you spent coding in your cubicle, the 16 hour work shifts, taunts about the deadline, the excessive work pressure,the utter lack of job satisfaction? Well, this is all from personal experience and yes, I do agree that a verbal "Great Work!" wouldn't do much harm to anyone :)
Thanks for the Echo Dreamer!! U just elaborated on the woes.I am not sure if it is only with the IT firms, but yes corporates need to understand motivational theories and put them to practise.I have seen so many deserving people switching jobs for the simple reason of not getting the well desrved recognition on time.
Glad to have u here, and thanks for the motivation with "Well written".that is what i call motivation:-)