Recently I attended a CFO of the Year luncheon in Charlotte.  In September I will be at the Turknett Leadership Character Awards luncheon in Atlanta. More than 20 very deserving leaders are featured as the nominees at each.  Spouses, colleagues and friends fill the tables.  The energy level is very high, with a lot of cheering and applause.

As I took in the energy of the room yesterday, two realizations washed over me.  One is that appreciation remains important to most of us.  Whether it is on a big stage like these events or on a much smaller stage it always makes us smile, and stimulates extra effort.  The need and desire for being appreciated is universally one of the reasons people want to keep working.  Appreciation for people we help, problems we solve and things we build.

As I think about all of the people I have gotten to know who are looking for something different, lack of appreciation is usually central.  Significance and a feeling of satisfaction are linked in a large way to feeling appreciated.  Perhaps it is for the significance of the work — the way it helps others.  Maybe it is leaving a legacy by building something — like Bernie Marcus and the Georgia Aquarium. Or it may be a reputation for being the person “who can figure out anything”.  Whatever the driver the desire to be appreciated  is a natural reaction.  The question becomes whether our current job and position feeds that desire.  If not there is a good chance that we are not totally fulfilled by what we do.

The second realization was that many of the award winners were in their own chapter two.  One was particularly poignant.  His daughter was head of HR for a smaller company, and they realized that they needed some interim help and experience with some finance projects.  Her dad had “the right stuff” and the time, so they hired him for the project.  It worked out so well for everyone that he ultimately became the CFO, and was nominated as CFO of the Year.  He did not win the award, but talked about an even greater award — having an office right down the hall from his daughters’ and seeing every day her great work for the company.

Wanting to be appreciated is natural and healthy.  It is a key reason people keep working.  When it is missing so is satisfaction and significance.  Based on our experience, that is when you need to step out of your comfort zone, look in the mirror and think about proactively making a change — to your own chapter two.

– Jim Deupree