The Power Of Recognition
One thing everyone needs in life is recognition. Even the smallest amount of recognition can leave an imprint that lasts forever. Helen P. Mrosla, a teaching nun, wrote a story of an experience that well displays the true power of recognition. Here is her story, taken from the book Becoming a Person of Influence by John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan, pages 44 – 46.
The Power of Recognition
One Friday (in the classroom) things just didn't feel right. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and I sensed that the students were growing frustrated with themselves—and edgy with one another. I had to stop this crankiness before it got out of hand. So I asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.
It took the remainder of the class period to finish the assignment, but as the students left the room, each one handed me their paper…
That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday, I gave each student his or her list. Some of them ran two pages. Before long, the entire class was smiling. “Really?” I heard whispered. “I never knew that meant anything to anyone!” “I didn't know others liked me so much!”
No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. I never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another again.
That group of students moved on. Several years later, after I had returned from a vacation, my parents met me at the airport. As we were driving home. Mother asked the usual questions about the trip: How the weather was, my experiences in general. There was a slight lull in the conversation. Mother gave Dad a sideways glance and simply said, “Dad?” My father cleared his throat. “The Eklunds called last night,” he began.
“Really?” I said. “I haven't heard from them for several years. I wonder how Mark is.”
Dad responded quietly. “Mark was killed in Vietnam,” he said. “The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend.” To this day I can still point to the exact spot on 1-494 where Dad told me about Mark.
I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before… The church was packed with Mark's friends. [His old classmate] Chuck's sister sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Why did it have to rain on the day of the funeral? It was difficult enough at the graveside. The pastor said the usual prayers and the bugler played taps. One by one those who loved Mark took a last walk by the coffin and sprinkled it with holy water.
I was the last one to bless the coffin. As I stood there, one of the soldiers who had acted as a pallbearer came up to me. “Were you Mark's math teacher?” he asked. I nodded as I continued to stare at the coffin. “Mark talked about you a lot,” he said.
After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates headed to Chuck's farmhouse for lunch. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting for me. “We want to show you something,” his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. “They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.”
Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. “Thank you so much for doing that,” Mark's mother said. “As you can see, Mark treasured it.”
Mark's classmates started to gather around us. Chuck smiled rather sheepishly and said, “I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.” John's wife said, “John asked me to put his in our wedding album.” “I have mine too,” Marilyn said. “It's in my diary.” Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet, and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. “I carry this with me at all times,” Vicky said without batting an eyelash. “I think we all saved our lists.”
That's when I finally sat down and cried.
What would make so many adults hold on to pieces of paper they had received years before as kids, some of them carrying those pages with them everywhere they went — even into battle in a rice paddy halfway around the world? The answer is appreciation. Everyone is incredibly hungry for appreciation and recognition.
…
Wow! What a powerful story showcasing just how far simple recognition and encouragement can go. This is half our responsibility as leaders! We fail those we lead if we fail to recognize their accomplishments, talents, character, etc. Let's strive to do all we can to encourage, recognize, and build up those we lead. Who knows what kind of impact it may have.
Photography Copyright: 123 RF Photos / Dedivan
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