Individual Symbols

While the organization comes first, invincible executives recognize the importance of putting a human face on the organization. Consequently, they frequently use individual employees as symbols of the good of the entity. Each year, for example, in their State of the Union Addresses, both President Clinton and President Bush have made a point of bringing ordinary Americans who have done something extraordinary to the halls of Congress to give them recognition in front of the whole U.S. government and all of the American citizens watching.

Successful corporate executives and military officers also make it a regular practice to single out people—at every level of the organization—who have performed exceptionally. They do not devalue the process by giving awards to everyone, nor do they devalue the process by just signing some certificate or sending a medal through interoffice mail. Rather, they make sure that they learn of true accomplishment in their organization, and they participate directly in the process of rewarding that accomplishment.

"Ceremonies—albeit brief ones—are a must," according to top prosecutor Ed Dowd. It makes the individual receiving recognition proud, but more important, it tells everyone that the organization is paramount. The ceremony reminds people of the reverence that the top executives have for their organization. You want your people framing their awards and putting them on the walls.