I had the great privilege of seeing Yo-Yo Ma perform with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this weekend at spectacular Symphony Hall. He was, quite simply, phenomenal.
When he plays his stunning cello, passion exudes from his entire energy field. You can’t help but be riveted while watching him.
And while the applause at the end of his performance of Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor was loud, the most thunderous applause came when he did something else: he ran around the stage giving bear hugs to the conductor and his fellow cellists, fervent hand shakes to the violinists and raising his fists in an ebullient manner, as in victory, to the woodwinds, horn section and percussionists.
Yes, the biggest applause of the evening came when he movingly thanked his entire team.
As a member of the audience I just couldn’t help but feel the emotion in his actions. It was almost indescribable, this sense of shared happiness for everyone’s success. This man who was clearly the star of the show knew with absolute clarity that his success was fully dependent on the masterful performance of everyone around him. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra played perfectly, empowering Yo-Yo Ma to shine. And he showed them his most genuine appreciation.
Which led me to wonder…
As leaders, do we thank our teams enough? It’s often the case that as the leader we become the one who receives the visibility and “spotlight.” But we don’t earn that spotlight without a strong team behind us. When we receive it, we owe it to our teams to:
1. Thank them, purposefully
2. Show some emotion: our sincere gratitude that reflects our own genuine sense of emotion
3. Share the spotlight and thank them publicly whenever possible
4. Remember to thank them when no one is watching
5. Do our own jobs to the best of our ability, seeking every opportunity for growth
Because our success as leaders is wholly related to the success of our teams. The more we provide them resources, empowerment, encouragement, and gratitude to fuel their success, the stronger we perform. It’s a win-win.
How are you thanking your team?
~
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Photo of Yo-Yo Ma is by the World Economic Forum.
14 Response Comments
Two magic words that go so far – thank-you. It may sound ridiculous but if you aren’t spending dedicated time every single day simply to help your people grow then you aren’t doing your job as a leader. And part of that is showing your appreciation for their passion. Even Yo Yo Ma had a mentor, a leader, who thanked him for his passion and hard work. If we don’t make time for our people, we shouldn’t be shocked when they leave as profits diminish.
Beautifully said, Kneale! Thank you so much for being here and for the reminder that this is a critical part of a leader’s job.
I couldn’t agree more. I go a step further by writing thank you emails at least once a day, and I encourage my employees to make some of those posts public. We use Thankhub.com to do that (it’s free).
Arshad, what a fantastic idea! Thank you for sharing here – I sincerely appreciate it!
Great post Lisa. This is how you show you CARE. A simple heart felt gesture. Thank you. Wow. It is amazing how it makes people feel and equally amazing how many people don’t do it. When leaders and/or bosses say thank you, it can have a positve ripple effect on the entire organization. It makes everyone feel better, more appreciated, you know, that someone actually CARE’s.
Thanks again Lisa. Love this.
Al
I really appreciate this, Al! And you’re right, it has such a positive ripple effect on the entire organization! In my case, on the audience as well!
Lisa — first off, it was great to see you on Thursday at the SOBCon / SMC Chicago event. Second, I knew you were excited to chaperone the “kids” to the Yo-Yo Ma concert. However, perhaps like you, I would not have expected to witness the kindness and professionalism that Yo-Yo Ma exhibited to his fellow professional artists. His action spoke volumes. I’m glad you were there to witness it. Third, I hope the kids noticed too. Finally, thank you for taking the time to put fingers to keyboard to capture and express what seems so obvious and rooted in common sense. The act of saying and showing a heartfelt thank you. With that … I thank you!
Jeff – it was wonderful seeing you as well! And you raise a great point – it’s important for us to notice acts of true humility and to allow our hearts to be open to them. Thank YOU so much for being here and for sharing your friendship with me through these past few years!
Love the picture you painted in my mind Lisa! Shared respect, admiration, appreciation and JOY!
What a powerful vision of how synergy works! Makes every cell in my body dance!
What a delightful way to start the day… Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for being here and for letting me know how much it resonated with you, Chery! I sincerely appreciate it. And if it makes *any* part of you dance I’ve been successful! All my very best to you…
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for the powerful reminder. Your story was moving and your tips are spot-on.
And, putting your thanks in a handwritten note to your team members every so often can really make an impact in today’s electronic world.
For me, that often seems to add that extra touch of sincerity.
Eric
Thank you, Eric – and thank you for the excellent addition. Handwritten notes are truly golden in this age! All the best and thank you for being here!