Top Tips for Don’t Hear It on the Grapevine: Celebrating Values in Action
What gets recognised gets repeated
Source Unknown
Why This Matters
Most organisations have values displayed on walls, websites and leaflets.
The real question is whether those values are being noticed, recognised and celebrated in everyday practice.
Recognition helps people understand what great practice looks like.
Introduction
Many care homes and support services focus on reporting concerns, incidents and complaints.
These are important.
But what about recognising the good things people do every day?
Celebration Boards can be a simple and powerful way to highlight positive practice.
Real-Life Example
One service introduced a board titled:
“Values in Action.”
Staff could nominate colleagues who demonstrated kindness, teamwork, dignity or person-centred support.
Within weeks the board was full of examples.
The conversations changed from “Who’s done something wrong?” to “Who’s made a difference?”
Mike’s Reflection
The best recognition systems aren’t complicated.
They are genuine.
When people see examples of colleagues living the organisation’s values, those values move from words on paper into everyday practice.
This Week’s Top Tips
Create a Celebration Board
Use a physical or digital board where staff can share examples of positive practice.
Link Recognition to Values
Rather than simply saying “Thank you”, identify which organisational value was demonstrated.
Share Specific Examples
Celebrate behaviours, not just people.
For example:
“Sarah spent extra time supporting a new resident to settle in. A great example of person-centred care.”
A Gentle Reminder
People are more likely to repeat behaviours that are noticed and appreciated.
August Challenge
Start collecting one values-based example of positive practice every day for the next week.
Over to You
How often do your staff hear about what is going well?
Remember: Small Actions Can Create Big Opportunities.
Over to You:
Release Your Potential
These are my thoughts and perspectives (I’m not necessarily right or wrong, simply starting a conversation).
So, what about your thoughts? What is YOUR perspective?
- Do any of these things ring true for you and can you picture yourself putting these tips into action?
- What would it look, sound and feel like if you put some of these tips into action – for you and others?
- What barriers might you come against when putting these tips/ideas into action? How might you overcome them?
- Who could give you support and how?
- Have you tried these tips and ideas out and, if so, what have you learned?
I’d love to hear your thoughts, reflections, gut reactions, perceptions, experiences and wisdom.
Remember that sharing our experiences can help others, so your thoughts and comments are always welcome.
