With endless to-do lists, it can be easy to constantly focus on what still needs to be done. We forget that the efforts we have made, the paths we have taken and the experience we have acquired are just as important as the end result.

At school, we were taught to expect congratulations based on exam success, rather than on the time invested. This means that, as adults, if we don’t achieve the expected result or if no one congratulates us, we can feel a sense of injustice or a total lack of recognition, which seriously demotivates us.

In the world of work, performance evaluations are still mainly based on whether an objective has been achieved. Employees may find themselves having to cover the responsibilities of an absent colleague, deal with a difficult individual, adapt to a change in procedure or abandon one project to focus on another, yet such extra efforts are all too often taken for granted.

Few of us have learned to acknowledge and value our own efforts, regardless of the result obtained. This lack of validation creates a state of permanent inner dissatisfaction, so we look to others for thanks or congratulations. External recognition can encourage us, but the challenge is to develop inner self-recognition.

“The recognition that I give myself reflects my real contribution to the Organization.”

“I allow myself to fully recognise my efforts, regardless of the results obtained and even if no one else acknowledges them.”

What opportunities do we have to value our daily efforts? What “internal” congratulations are we forgetting to give ourselves?

As part of the “Efficiency and caring at work” campaign, the Work Well Feel Well website now offers useful resources that can be downloaded, including an exercise on appreciating our daily efforts.

Other suggestions include:

• Creating “done” lists: By regularly noting down what we have done, we not only realise how much we have accomplished but also learn to value our achievements and feel proud of ourselves. When a task has been completed, we can take a moment to appreciate our efforts.
• Building new habits: Throughout our careers, we will need to reflect on and value our achievements, whether we are applying for a job, preparing for a yearly appraisal or seeking a promotion. Getting into the habit of celebrating our own successes will help us to prepare for these career milestones.
• Taking training courses: The CERN training catalogue includes courses on performance management and giving and receiving feedback that can help us to self-evaluate and appreciate our own efforts.