writing assignment

6. Encourage the Heart Leaders encourage their followers’ hearts to go the distance. They visibly acknowledge people’s efforts in pursuit of the common vision. With a thank-you note, a smile, and public praise, they let others know how much they mean to the organization. They make a point of telling the rest of the organization about what the teams have achieved.

Celebration is important to a winning team. Leaders find ways to mark accomplishments. They take time out to rejoice in reaching a milestone and to gather spirit and support to continue.

To Encourage the Heart, you recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence, and you celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community.

Complete this section after you have read Barry Posner and James Kouzes’ chapter on Encourage the Heart. The stories are meant to inform and inspire you.

Reflection 6: Encourage the Heart (50 points)

 Appreciate Individual Excellence: Select one time that you would consider your most memorable individual recognition–– a time when you felt the most appreciated by someone. What made this time so memorable? (Paragraph - 15 points)

 Celebrate Victories: List fun and meaningful ways for people to celebrate as a team (List - 15 points)

You are a member of class / work group project teams:

 Have you ever admired a classmate for their individual excellence? How did you recognize the person? (Paragraph - 10 points)

 Have you / could you have celebrated a recent successful / winning team activity or project? How? Did the event bring the team closer together? (Paragraph - 10 points)