Holidays –‘tis the season to be jolly. But it may seem there is little to celebrate with all the grim global events so prominent in the news and the constant pressure of running your business. The Canadian men’s basketball team certainly have something to celebrate with their recent qualification for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. And looking at their journey as a team might help you to find something to celebrate in your business despite all the doom and gloom. But first of all, why is it so important to celebrate your business? Oprah Winfrey puts it very succinctly; “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. ”Quite simply, positivity generates positivity among your employees and your customers as well as your shareholders and investors. That positive energy not only feeds morale but it also inspires creativity and productivity.
Celebrate your team
An important part of celebrating your business is acknowledging the pivotal part your team has played in its success. Your business works thanks to your staff and customers and without them you would have no business at all. The GM of the men’s team, Rowan Barrett, recognizes this; “this is about the players. It doesn’t work if they don’t want it. And I think their level of sacrifice and commitment is to be commended.”[1]The reality is no team or organisation will perform at its best if morale is low but celebrating your team can help you transform a poorly performing organisation into an inspirational hotbed of dynamic creativity and productivity. For Barrett “a part of being the greatest team ever is performing like it. ”It’s a glorified version of the old fake it till you make it idea. And when you start to celebrate the small steps you build the morale that leads to more success. Tom Peters (author of In Search of Excellence) puts it even more simply, ‘Celebrate what you want to see more of’. For example, if you want more creativity start by celebrating the ideas that are already working well.
Celebrate the journey
Business success doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a journey. Building positivity and productivity in the workplace is not just about focusing on the successes or the high points of that journey. The difficult times also build fortitude and resilience; they can make your organisation stronger. Thomas A. Edison emphasized this when he said, "Negative results are just what I want. They're just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don't. "Maybe it’s time to celebrate how far you’ve come on this journey. Take the time to applaud the way your team handled the failures and the bumps this year. When you start looking you’ll find there’s more to be cheerful about than you realized. Try to make everyday a celebration.[1] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/basketball/article-gm-of-canadas-mens-basketball-team-hails-players-sacrifice-and/
