Acknowledgement is about recognition or attention from

another person. It can be physical such as - a pat on the

back, a touch or a handshake. It can also be psychological

such as - a word of praise, a compliment, even a "hello!" It

can even just be time spent with the person.

Physical and psychological attentions are absolutely vital

to human beings. We all need it and we need it every day.

However, it must be said that every human being has a

different level of need for acknowledgement.

If you looked at it on a scale of 0 to 100 then there are a

small number of people who'd be low on the scale. These are

the people who cut themselves off from others, the hermits

amongst us. The majority of people however, are pretty far

up that scale.

The need for acknowledgement is something that's programmed

into us. Babies and children have a huge need for physical

acknowledgement. You can see that demonstrated by the way

they reach out for you, how they want to be held and

cuddled. Research has shown that infants who are denied this

physical acknowledgement can suffer both in their physical

and emotional growth.

As children develop their use of language, they start to

need psychological attention as well. I'm sure you've

experienced children coming to you, with something they've

drawn or made, looking for your praise.

As we grow into adulthood we become more sophisticated;

however our need for acknowledgement doesn't go away, we

just seek it in a different way.

We send out all sorts of signals just to get

acknowledgement. We "casually" mention some achievement -

"I've managed to reduce my golf handicap" - "My boss has

asked me to take on more responsibility" or - "Our child has

just passed their exams."

We take other actions to meet our need for acknowledgement.

Do you remember the TV programme Cheers about the regular

customers in a Boston bar? The show's signature theme had a

line in it which went something like - "Everybody goes where

everybody knows your name!" The characters in Cheers don't

just go to Cheers for a drink; they know that when they walk

in the door someone, probably the person behind the bar will

acknowledge them.

I was speaking to a participant on one of my seminars and he

was telling me all about his role as President of his local

fishing club. All the things he had to do, the newsletter to

write, the competitions to organise and the meetings to

attend. I asked him if he got paid for it. "Oh no" was the

reply, "I do it because I like it."

Of course he does it because he likes it and no doubt it's a

lot of work and takes up lots of his time. However, the

acknowledgement he receives from this is massive.

I've known elderly parents who exaggerate illness just to

get their family to visit and spent time with them; they

just want acknowledgement.

A human's need for acknowledgement is so strong that they

will sometimes behave badly to get that acknowledgement. I'm

sure you're aware of children who behave badly in school

just to get attention - well, adults do it too.

That person in your team who gives you all sorts of problems

which are often difficult to understand, may just be seeking

acknowledgement.

The people you manage need acknowledgement and spending

quality time with them is the way to do it. Just to be clear

- acknowledgement isn't just about praising people; it's

about spending time, listening and speaking with them.

Discover how you can generate more business by motivating

your team!

Alan Fairweather is the author of "How to get More Sales

by Motivating Your Team" This book is packed with practical

things you can do to get the best out of your people.

Visit http://www.howtogetmoresales.com