Leadership Tip of the Week: July 4th

Most Americans know what happened on July 4^th, 1776 but what about July 4^th, 1777?

The 4^th of July is Independence Day, a time for celebration, picnics, fireworks and alien invasions (only in the movies so far).  This tradition started on July 4^th, 1777 when Congress adjourned to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. They celebrated with picnics, parties and fireworks — all traditions that continue to this day.

This provides a great leadership tip. Leaders need to make sure they celebrate significant achievements. Our founding fathers knew how important it was to mark accomplishments; that is why they took a pause to celebrate a historic event. Leaders today need to do the same thing. Your accomplishment might not make the history books, but celebrating your team’s achievements will boost the morale of the team and lead to greater productivity.

My favorite 4^th of July celebration was in Afghanistan in 2012. We took advantage of the few resources we had to celebrate our great country’s independence. It was small but very impactful. The sincerity of the celebration resonated with everyone there. Leaders at all levels can create these sincere celebrations.

They don’t have to take a lot of resources, just show some effort and a genuine concern for your team and you can turn a small celebration into better team effectiveness.

Celebrate Independence Day AND the accomplishments of your team this week.