Dave Curry
Concept Six - Strategic Recognition
In our education as Kiwanis leaders we have been encouraged
to acknowledge and reward effort. It remains a principle in
Kiwanis, in the home, at work, etc. But how do we recognize
effort in a timely fashion, while there is still time to motivate
members and affect the productivity of the current year? One
way is to have recognition that is scheduled, anticipated,
and sufficient. These ideas may assist you to use recognition
as an effective tool:
- Kiwanian Of The Month (KOM) - This is an effective way
of setting the spirit early, while recognizing individual
effort. Give gifts that are meaningful and remember that
it doesn't have to be expensive to be meaningful. The most
effective reward is recognition on the front page of your
district bulletin (enclosed is a copy of the front page
of some early district bulletins as examples). Another example
- in addition to giving each KOM a baseball (see bullet
point immediately below), they also received a special pin
given only to them and the leadership team. Even though
the gift was small and inexpensive, it was valued for its
scarcity.
- Special gifts - Think outside the box and have unique
gifts. Baseballs, in an acrylic frame, were given to every
"heavy hitter" of the District (KOM/KOY/Active
District Chairs/Officers/IDD donors). These were signed
by the "heavy hitters" of Kiwanis, almost all
of the International board members that year - imagine as
Governor-elect collecting signatures on 50 baseballs at
the Denver Convention (Ito still talks about it)!
- Kiwanian Of The Year (KOY) - Either start a program or,
if your district has one, take it to the next level:
- Have a gift worthy of the KOY (we had a 24"X36"
art piece of an eagle flying out of a mist), it was
stunning & had an engraved plate with the recipients
name & "Kiwanian Of The Year 1999/2000".
- Take this gift to mid-year conference/town meetings/official
visits, encouraging folks to be involved. This will
establish credibility at the start of the year that
you will recognize folks who participate.
Considerations:
- Have a KOM for September, prior to your first month, and
honor someone who helped set up the year. Have that article
on the front page of the October Bulletin, so that everyone
knows there is something NEW.
- Recognize victories toward the most important district
goals early in the year, and don't miss a month.
- In addition to Kiwanian of the Year, we also had the
first Kiwanis "Club of the Year". This was recognition
for a club's effort, which had a tremendous impact on the
success of 1999/2000 district goals and objectives. We gave
out the same engraved eagle picture to that club's President,
who successfully led that group.
- There were out of pocket costs for the pictures, baseballs,
pins, etc. but it was well worth it.
- Set the spirit by showing appreciation to district officers
with an extra gift at the START of the year. I gave
out "dream catchers", to each member of the Leadership
Team, to hang on their rear view mirror as they traveled
the district. This constantly reminded them not to "let
anyone steal your dream". I recently visited one of
those leaders (5 years later), and guess what was still
hanging on their mirror!
- Give year-end awards for actively doing a job,
not for just accepting it. Tell folks that at the
start. Only when you set high expectations can you expect
to see efforts that go beyond.
- In business we recognize results - in Kiwanis we encourage
effort. Consider rewarding effort (our Kiwanian Of The Year
was not a Kiwanian Of The Month that year, but he consistently
showed great effort).
Sometimes effective leadership entails recognizing effort
in a timely fashion to motivate continued performance.
For more information contact:
Name: Dave Curry
Address: 1204 W Woolman
 Butte,
MT 59701
Phone: (406) 723-8067
email: Dave Curry
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