Recognizing team members at MLH

Team member recognition is absolutely essential. Looking for every opportunity you can to reward and recognize excellent results, ‘above and beyond’ effort and value added is MLH’s belief. Hence to recognize their team December 5 was set for a grand event, when 800 team members and their families gathered for some quality time.

General Manager Anura Dewapura’s reign has indeed done justice from image to quality of service and innovativeness in dining, events and products have certainly made MLH the most talked about iconic hotel in town and said: A highlight in the agenda was when News First showcased the first ever production by the direction of Lakmal who was the producer of this news journal that was aired for a week in the month of December, of Sir Thomas Maitland who came to our island, the appointed Governor of His Majesty King George III and fell in love with Lovian, a mestizo dancer, a girl of mixed Sinhalese and Portuguese blood.

“Beautiful she must have been. Striking…exotic, certainly for she inflamed the imagination and captured the heart of the man who was known as ‘King Tom’. So Sir Thomas began his search for “some place in the country” where he could build his residence.

Of course the Governor was partial to a certain area known as Galkissa and before a year was out (such was the impelling force of passion) had built “a small but comfortable” house on a rocky headland, the only elevated land on the western shore, looking out over the beautiful bay. Described as being “handsomely built, laid out in mahogany and calamander wood”, the mansion, with its white columns, polished wooden floors, intricately carved wood ceilings and wide windows open to the sea breezes, became the trysting place for the lovers.”

Mount Lavinia Hotel Chairman Sanath Ukwatte was grateful that a local electronic media such as News First took the initiative to highlight a love story that is so synonymous to Sri Lanka. It’s all up to YOU. Financial rewards, our company’s ‘brand’ or the quality of our executive team will not, by themselves, make my team successful. It is actually up to YOU to make it happen.

Recognition is KEY. Noticing and recognizing the RIGHT behaviours is the key to strengthening team member relationships. During these tight economic times, we were called upon to do more with less resources. Keeping and motivating high-performing employees becomes even more critical during these times. As a leader, it is YOUR JOB to recognize and bond your most valued people to your team and your company. And no doubt my engineering team did wonders by saving millions for the company.

Pick your “rewards” wisely. We do not wait until we offer a raise to recognize great performance; heart-felt and sincerely-delivered “thanks” is its own reward. When team members feel recognized and involved, they are much less likely to keep asking about money.

Examples of things we include (a) remembering our team members’ birthdays (b) Lavinia Star – recognizing efforts that made an impact on quality of service and product. (c) Team member of the month. (d) Walk around the departments on a daily basis and looing for opportunities to say thanks and giving verbal recognition of effort. It’s all in the presentation. Praise and recognition must be specific to have an impact.

And indeed it has paid off in the motivational factor of my team. Keep your eye on the harvest. Focus recognition on the kinds of behavior that make your team and your company better.

With this type of focus, your team will understand that recognition is not a popularity contest but an important tool to move people toward specific goals, make team members more efficient and make work groups more productive.