Why BIG Wins?
When I grew up, life felt so much slower. Long days spent playing in the woods or playing games like kick the can and manhunt. Just being a kid! Days felt like they wouldn’t ever end, I didn’t really mind it at the time.
Now? Well, it couldn’t be more different. It feels like our performance is measured by the minute and the good old days are gone for good! We’re owned by our phones and never sit around long enough to actually celebrate. If there’s one recent trend, ok there’s about 50 things that could make this list, but if there’s one recent trend that bothers me... it’s our lack of celebration for things that truly matter.
Now don’t get me started on kindergarten graduations and birthday months and things in our society that are OVER celebrated... that could take a while, what I’m talking about is our inability to step back and celebrate hard work and achievement without looking forward to the next thing that needs to be accomplished. We’ve forgotten how to celebrate things that should be celebrated in the workplace!
Now, this goes back to the book of Genesis right...it’s a Biblical concept as old as time! When God created...he stepped back and said this is “Good.” Right? He took a minute to pause, to celebrate. When he created us, he said...this is VERY GOOD! His masterpiece. He didn’t sit there and say, “Ok, so what’s next...what’s on tap for tomorrow?” No, he stepped back and celebrated the fruits of His labor.
So why do we have a tough time with this? Why can’t we stop long enough to celebrate a job well done, a deal closed, a new venture? Well, I think it’s because our society feels it is ineffective and worthless if we’re not working towards something! It’s not about what have you done lately...it’s about what are you doing next! Our attention spans are so teeny tiny, that what has been accomplished is quickly forgotten about and what is yet to accomplish becomes the “White Whale” we chase after.
Think about the iPhone or the newest gadget you’ve bought. As soon as it’s released the question is brought up of what the next one is going to look like! It’s madness. They even are working on the next release before the current release is out, why? Because you’re only as good as your next release... your next achievement... your next innovation.
I’m here to tell you that’s simply not true. Yes, we should be building new releases and innovating, but not if it costs us celebration in the process. Not if it robs us of ever enjoying what we’re working on in the moment. Life cannot be lived in these mountain top experiences, but is lived in the margins. It’s the conversations you have with a coworker when you’re at lunch. It’s the quick little glimpses we get as we’re walking into a meeting with some people instead of scrolling on Instagram waiting for the meeting to start.
One of the things we love to celebrate at BOP is BIG Wins. It stands for Begin in Gratitude and if you’ve ever sat in on a team meeting of ours or sat through a coaching time, you know we always ask you what your BIG Win is. It’s a Unique Core Value of ours because we believe that celebration needs to be an integral part of who we are. You work too hard to not be allowed to celebrate and celebrate regularly.
Many of our clients have started BIG Wins in their team meetings as they’ve realized how critical it is to morale and how tight it draws their team together.
It’s a moment of humanity in the midst of a grueling efficiency battle. It pulls the curtain back a bit to remember that our coworkers or employees are humans and not just chess pieces to move around. It’s a way to celebrate the PROCESS of achieving a goal, not just the goal itself!”
Because your employees want to be celebrated...so how are you doing that as a business? That’s what I want to leave you with today?
What’s the culture of celebration and wins feel like in your business? Is it go go go and never stop for recognition? Or is it one that pays attention to the little things? One that celebrates the wins along the way? One that isn’t playing the game of always looking forward, but is willing to slow down enough to celebrate the daily and weekly BIG Wins?
I hope so…
Have a great weekend y’all!