Leadership Tip of the Week: Labor Day

It was 1 p.m. on the Friday before Labor Day. The weather was perfect and everyone was anxiously waiting to receive an email from our boss that offered gratitude toward everyone for our contributions. Typically, it authorized everyone to leave early in order to enjoy a long weekend with our families. This annual  email usually arrived at noon — which made the anticipation even worse. The minutes ticked by slowly, and by 2 p.m., we had given up hope. It wasn’t coming. Our team was not happy. The  email that never arrived — and the early release we had hoped for — were not easily forgotten.

The following  year was different. My immediate supervisor had learned an important lesson. He was sure to release the team at noon. He also took the opportunity to thank our team for our hard work and effort.

Which boss do you think we liked better after that?

It’s Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer. It is also the day set aside to celebrate the contributions workers have made to the strength and prosperity of our country. Your team may have grown to expect a “thank you” and acknowledgement, but that doesn’t mean it is any less important. A lot of times our inaction speaks louder than our actions. Holidays like Labor Day provide leaders with a perfect opportunity to acknowledge their team and celebrate their accomplishments.

Today is Labor Day. This week is the perfect time recognize your team and all they have done.