It is clear that when we recognize all volunteers in the same way and at the same time, we fail to recognize anyone. Each volunteer is a unique individual, and as such, needs to be thanked in a unique way. Some people do not wish to attend award programs; some will not show up for social activities, a few volunteers get embarrassed at being recognized in public. We must find ways to individually thank every person for their work.

Today's corporations are realizing that thanking and recognizing employees improves morale and makes people feel good. As you walk around observing your volunteers, you will observe good deeds and good actions. You should always watch for those moments when a volunteer does something special for someone. At that point, you need to follow the spur-of-the-moment rule. That's like that well-known Nike advertising slogan, "Just do it. When you see that special moment, a volunteer doing something special, go praise that volunteer! Ken Blanchard in his classic book, "The One Minute Manager" says it best. He calls it "One Minute Praising." He says that most managers spend their time trying to catch people doing things wrong. He puts the accent on the positive, He suggests we need to catch our people doing something right and praise them for it.

I can remember one of these very special moments ... My friend and I were having lunch together and he was telling me about a special presentation made by one of his volunteers at a city council meeting the prior evening. He remarked about what a strong message that volunteer had made and what an impact it will have for the agency. As we drove into the parking lot, my friend noticed the volunteer's car, stopped, got out of his car, took a business card out, turned the card over to the blank side and wrote a note to the volunteer, thanking him for that message before the council last night. He slipped the card under the wipers. I thought, what a wonderful, spur-of-the-moment way of recognizing this volunteer. If he had waited until the next volunteer meeting to recognize him, it would have lost some of the impact. In fact, even though my friend will say a few nice comments about the presentation at the next meeting, it's the spur-of-the-moment recognition that has the greatest impact.

Jerry Twentier in his book, "The Positive Power of Praising People" says it best..."written applause carries a special power all its own.... it confirms that honesty and goodwill have exerted tangible, visible effort. It can be relished repeatedly, making the acknowledgement seem permanent and official." I think we all enjoy receiving notes of thanks from people. I have a file of thank you notes and positive comments that I will not throw away. I am not alone in this thinking. Jack Canfield, author of all those "Chicken Soup" books, collects a "warm fuzzy file" composed of letters, reviews and notes of appreciation, which he says rejuvenates him as he rereads them.

The late Mary Kay was always a wizard at recognition. She had a phenomenon she called "The Power of the Stage." The stage is one of the places where Mary Kay saleswomen gain recognition as they cross the stage for a few seconds and come off trembling with excitement and enthusiasm. Mary Kay said that" from that moment until the next year's Seminar, each will fight to once again earn such applause." She suggests that's because every single one of us thrives on recognition. Her simple concept is called Praise People To Success! Mary Kay said, "If you let people know that you appreciate them and their performance, they'll respond by doing even better. In her book, she related a story that illustrates how much praise matters to people. A mother and her teenage daughter were having a discussion about the girl's boyfriend. "What does he like about you?" the mother asked. "Oh, he thinks I'm beautiful and sweet and have a wonderful personality." "That's nice. And what do you like about him?" "The fact that he thinks I'm beautiful and sweet and have a wonderful personality!"

Saying thank you is the best form of recognition. Thank yous come in many shapes and sizes... Sometimes it's face-to-face, following the catching of the volunteer doing something special. Sometimes, it's after the fact, involving a comment relayed to you by someone else that heard it. It's important to realize that all forms of thank you are effective. We are sometimes misled into thinking that, unless we say "thank you" in person, or write a thank you note on a fancy note card, it's not effective. I find that a thank you is a thank you, regardless of how you do it.

I will use voice mail, often during a drive home from the office. Many times I will be stuck in traffic, thinking about a task one of my volunteers had just completed. It might be that outstanding newsletter I just received or that creative idea one volunteers made at the board meeting a few hours ago. If I pick up the phone and leave a voice mail message, it will let the person know I do care and that I wanted to say thank you.

The computer brings us other high tech ways of saying thank you. When someone e-mails me a note of thanks, it makes me feel good. I usually print it and put it on my refrigerator door under a magnet. I have also faxed a volunteer a thank you. A faxed thank-you has another advantage in that it might be a public thank you, as other people might handle the fax and see the praise.

Here's an idea that has worked for me... put up a welcome bulletin board that personalizes the new volunteer. People love to see their names and photos in lights. It sets a positive tone. I remember those few hotels that put a sign up at the check-in desk that says "Welcome to Bill & Ann from Knowledge Transfer." We were holding a seminar there the following day and they were honoring us as a special customer. That sure doesn't cost much to do, but it really brings warmth to the guests.