Police officers are charged with catching people doing something wrong. Ward Clapham, a retired veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, described it as “always looking for the dark side.”
In 2002 Ward decided to shift the obedience-by-fear paradigm. He started catching kids doing something right, polite, safe, or kind.
He issued Positive Tickets to kids he saw crossing the road safely, picking up litter, wearing a bike helmet, or doing their homework. And to add significance, he allowed kids to exchange their tickets for pizza, gift certificates, or movie passes. To his surprise, some kids held on to their tickets to display at home, like a trophy for being a good person.
But it’s not about the tickets! It’s about the relationship he built with young people in his community. By recognizing their good behavior and acknowledging their worth, he gained their trust.
People at work also crave “Positive Tickets.” According to research, more than 50% of employees say they would look for another job if their manager did not appreciate or acknowledge their work.
As leaders, we should be issuing Positive Tickets every day! People who feel recognized have higher self-esteem which leads to greater contributions. We all work harder when we feel good about ourselves. Positive Tickets can be as simple as a thank you email or card. Remember,
it’s not about the ticket; it’s about the relationship and the trust that recognition engenders – essential for our success in leading! Apparently, puppies crave Positive Tickets too.
The motto posted in the puppy training room at my pet store is: “If you want to stop good behavior, ignore it.”