The Art of Applause at Work
“I like the quiet it takes to pursue an idea the way I pursued “Hamilton,” but I couldn’t write a book, because there’s no applause at the end of writing a book.” ― Lin-Manuel Miranda
The love of applause is intrinsic to most performers. There is nothing more validating than that noisy sense of appreciation following the accomplishment of something. Relishing the recognition of a job well done doesn’t make us selfish, it makes us human! Even the most introverted person likes to feel not only a sense of completeness after doing something special, but also that others have responded in a positive way.
Applause, or any public recognition of achievement, is as important in a business setting as in a creative one. The opportunity to celebrate each other’s accomplishments with real or symbolic applause is a way of exerting the important values of respect and gratitude in the workplace. We can find many ways to support our peers by expressing our appreciation directly to them for something they have done or by letting their manager know when they have gone above and beyond. Even taking a moment to validate a new idea that has been shared is a way to celebrate new ideas and initiative.
It is particularly important for leaders to regularly applaud their employees. And not just those individuals that speak the loudest in ways that validate those leaders. Expressing appreciation for ideas that do not directly conform to our own provides a wonderful opportunity for leaders to discover more about how their team thinks and feels and also to open up space for respectful dissent – a critical requirement for a functional organization.
Opportunities to celebrate a workmate need not occur only during an all-hands or team meeting or in celebration of reaching an organizational milestone or team goal. The little stuff matters. I would suggest that it can matter even more than the big stuff.
Acknowledging a positive customer interaction that you overheard, or the way one employee stepped in to help another employee, or a thoughtful idea that was suggested during a morning huddle, is as important to developing trust and empowering your team as a positive quarterly or yearly review. Your employees need to know that you SEE that stuff. You see THEM!
A strong leader wants their team to feel as powerful as possible! This means that their employees should be encouraged to feel like leaders themselves, drivers of their individual careers as well as supporters of the overall organizational mission. The last thing an organization needs is a workforce of drone-like followers whose sole purpose is to silently carry out their leader’s directives. This approach sucks the life out of those companies and can kill productivity in the process. Recognition and validation are important keys to establishing a healthier and happier workplace where employees can thrive.
These practices can also lead to stronger retention, commitment, and motivation, which can drive productivity and other positive organizational outcomes. A study conducted by Gallup in February of 20221 reported that 73 percent of workers who received regular praise are:
less likely to feel burnout
four times as likely to be engaged
five times as likely to feel a path to grow at their organization
four times as likely to recommend their workplace to family and friends.
Deliberately remembering to applaud both the little and the big stuff is not always easy when we find ourselves on the treadmill of daily tasks and deadlines, but an effort to acknowledge your peers or direct reports is essential to minimizing discontent and establishing an environment where workers feel welcome and supported and where they can thrive. Be observant and make an effort to notice the special things that are happening.
Keep in mind that simply manufacturing recognition which is not sincere or heartfelt will be seen as inauthentic and can backfire. The same Gallup study I mentioned above reported that praise that appeared ungenuine or was given too regularly undermined the feelings of well-being that come from real and authentic recognition.2
There is another side to applause which is one that you may not have thought of. As a matter of fact, it only occurred to me as I was writing and exploring this topic.
When we applaud – or acknowledge – an achievement, it often corresponds with the end of something. The performance has concluded. The song has ended. The speech is completed. The mission is accomplished. So, interestingly, that “high” one gets from an audience’s response, is also one that signals that the good, challenging, extraordinary, terrifying thing you have set out to do has ended. This can leave us in an unusual place.
When I’ve been involved in a production or finished a spirited performance with my band, the applause is both a validation and an ego boost, as well as a sign of relief – it’s over and I did it! Now I can rest on my laurels. If only.
The sense of pride and relief are usually equivalent. Both at a zenith. I’m typically equal parts charged up, a little giddy, exhausted (and starving!) following each performance. This can last for a few hours, or days, but it can often be followed by a sense of letdown or even depression.
I think you all can relate. Have you had that feeling when you have been looking forward to something – a vacation, a party, a concert, etc. – and when it is over, you find yourself listless and even sad? This is normal, of course, but I bring it up here to suggest that as we achieve a sense of joy and pride at completing something and being applauded for it, we continue to find ways to applaud others.
Let’s use my band as an example. Perhaps at the next rehearsal following a winning performance, our group could take a bit of time to celebrate the event itself as well as each member’s specific contributions. In addition, we could collectively explore new opportunities to express ourselves creatively.
Try this approach in your workplace. Celebrate each other’s latest achievements, but also remember to set up new expectations for yourselves and your team to realize your next applause-worthy performance!
Thank you for exploring the art of applause with me! If you would like to consider this topic further or wish to set up some time to discuss how you can achieve an applause-worthy professional and personal life, please contact me at elizabeth@artofworkconsulting.com.
1 Workhuman/Gallup, Inc., ed. 2022. Unleashing the Human Element at Work: Transforming Workplaces Through Recognition. p.3
2 ibid, p.12