As part of our Be Extraordinary Together culture work, Amrita Vuppala, MD, neuro-ophthalmologist at Nebraska Medicine, and UNMC assistant professor, Neurological Sciences, wrote this blog about the importance of appreciation. April’s culture concept was appreciation.
Appreciation: what and why?
Appreciation is defined as the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something. We experience a sense of fulfillment and courage when we receive appreciation from those around us. Both the acts of giving and receiving appreciation can be quite powerful and it makes what we do in our daily routine much more meaningful. Most people who give or receive appreciation feel an urge to continue to give back to those around them. It is no surprise that when more people feel appreciated and valued in a workplace, the morale and strength of that place grows tremendously.
Personal encounter with appreciation
My favorite personal encounter with appreciation involves turkeys! As a neuro-ophthalmologist, my clinics primarily take place at the Truhlsen Eye Institute. Last year around Thanksgiving, we decided that all providers, technicians and staff in the institute would color a turkey. Each person was then assigned feathers upon which to write a nice comment to be added to someone else’s turkey. By the end of it, we all had a turkey full of feathers that contained comments of appreciation or thanks from other people we worked with. Not only was it fun to write words of appreciation to others, but it was incredibly satisfying to see my coworkers excited and energized by the comments that others had written about them. This activity of giving and receiving recognition is actually what sparked my interest in learning how to increase appreciation and recognition in the workplace!
Appreciation month at Nebraska Medicine and UNMC
As many of you know, we are celebrating the month of appreciation. In line with this, provider and staff champions have come together to create a system in which recognition can easily be delivered across the health care system.
Ways to show appreciation
During this difficult and uncertain time, one small comment can change the vibe of someone’s day or current perspective. Below are a few examples of acts that might be recognized:
- A rapid and thoughtful consult from another team
- A nurse taking extra precautions to keep our patients virus free
- An administrator taking time to do something small but meaningful such as setting up a meeting or offering technical support
I know many of us may be working from home. In this case, appreciation can even be as simple as thanking someone for sending out a helpful email. In the words of women’s health and wellness authority Christiane Northrup, MD, "feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life!" Help spread positivity and send someone a note of appreciation today!
*For current employees only*: By going to NebraskaMed.com/Appreciation, you can fill out a short form that will allow you to recognize any individual who has done something remarkable or meaningful. We will ensure the comment is delivered to the person being recognized, and their appropriate supervisor.