John Mackey, Whole Foods CEO, has worked to build a positive culture at Whole Foods: “People nurse petty grievances in day-to-day life. That’s why we’ve been ending meetings with voluntary appreciations for 20 years. It’s a chance for people to say nice things about one another, and the appreciations tend to break down barriers.”
Complaining often seems to be the topic of choice in a world preoccupied with problems, disasters and gossip. When in pain, find someone or something to blame. But don't stop there! Complaining can help you spread that pain around to all you meet. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, it's all too easy to extend that focus to our own day. We focus on our mistakes or what we failed to get done instead of the work completed. Building a habit of ending a meeting with shared statements of appreciation, may seem forced, but it works in building a habit worth continuing. Don't expect a torrent of compliments the first time you try this. After all, most statements of appreciation come at "going away" parties or at testimonials when people die thus ensuring very little impact on your team’s productivity! Some will think it's corny and refuse to participate. Stick with it. Focusing on what's working and taking the time to acknowledge it pays off in higher motivation and job satisfaction. Keep the compliments specific and don't forget to spread the word. Be known for your “positive gossip!” With volunteer appreciation on your meeting agenda, you'll have all the material you need to “positively gossip” your way to a strong culture of pride. Add it to your agenda this week and watch it make a difference for your team. What do you think? (Source: John Mackey, Whole Foods CEO, Spirit, p. 40, June, 2008)
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