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No, this isn't another ruse to sell greeting cards. The idea of an International Project Management Day was conceived to bring recognition and appreciation to project managers. The stated purpose is

"Increase the awareness of the value of project management within the large business, government, small business, and social communities and promote project management as a true profession and key business strategy. This includes, but is not limited to: construction, information technology, entertainment, government, aeronautics, health care, ecology, social, disaster recovery, community improvement, and quality of life projects."

Take the time to acknowledge or appreciate someone on your project, in your organization, or your circle of family and friends.

Showing appreciation and acknowledgement is a good thing…a really good thing. It keeps us going both on the giving and receiving end. Let's take the time, not just on November 2nd, to let project managers, project teams, clients, and contractors know that we sincerely appreciate working with them. The Gallup Organization research indicates without appreciation and acknowledgement at least once every 7 days individuals and teams won't sustain high performance.¹

In addition to the IPM-day events you'll be attending, how about you begin building a habit in your organization for acknowledging and appreciating each other? Last year I invited readers to Try this with Me: Acknowledge and Appreciate. I followed it with my Field Report: Acknowledge and Appreciate. I have to admit I need to do more work. It takes my attention to engage with others in ways that they know I appreciate them. So, I'll be doing the exercise again for the next two weeks. Here's the exercise:

• For the next week take the time to acknowledge or appreciate someone on your project, in your organization, or your circle of family and friends. Take care to be sincere. Appreciate them for who they are, not what they did for you or someone else. Rather than say, "Thank you for taking such good meeting notes," say, "I appreciate the care you give to capturing the conversation we had today."
• Do this AT LEAST ONCE every morning and every afternoon.
• Make a short note to yourself each time you express your appreciation to track that you are doing the exercise.
• At the end of the week review your notes.
• Now repeat the process for another week, but double your effort. Go for at least two acts of appreciation and acknowledgement each morning and afternoon.
• Continue to make a short record of you actions to keep you on track
• Review your notes at the end of the week.

People ask me, "Do I have to keep a secret of practicing acknowledging and appreciating others? Will it still work if people know what I am doing?" I've found it to be just the opposite. Do this as a group exercise. Imagine what could happen if your team created the environment all around them where people flourish. It just might lead to projects that delight clients, come in on time or early, and at or below budget. Now, the need for increasing the awareness of the value of project management would disappear forever.

1. As reported in First, Break All the Rules, by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, published in 1999. [ ⇑ back ]