The Value of Recognizing Small Wins

When working a job that can be emotionally draining and leave you feeling discouraged at times, it is important to recognize small wins and acknowledge the worth of the work that you are doing. One of my favorite jobs was working to help get dogs adopted. Of course, it was challenging dealing with the sadness of realizing that not all dogs could or would be adopted or saved,. Many of my fellow employees often felt frustrated, wishing that they had more time to rehabilitate aggressive or problematic animals and often challenged management’s decisions. It felt like we were often on deadlines and while working with these dogs would become very fond of them as we saw small progress. Everyone was united to save and adopt out these animals.

On days when we had lost a dog to euthenasia and felt like we could have rehabilitated them if we had the proper funding, space and more time;  people would often just break down and cry at work. Some even displayed outright anger toward management, who’s hands were tied.

What I found important in a job where you know you will have to deal with losses like this is that you have to celebrate and acknowledge when something goes right, no matter how small the victory. Even if what you are trying to accomplish seems to be happening too slowly, you need to focus more on the daily small successes rather than worrying that you are running out of time. I found it helpful to focus on a dogs daily breakthroughs rather than wondering when the plug might get pulled. It was almost as if a dog made more progress when my attitude was of encouragement and celebration rather that desperation.To keep this attitude and display this behavior in front of my co-workers also seemed to add value to the workplace. It fostered teamwork and strengthened goal setting. I found this attitude and the practice of not participating in the negativity to be yet another way to develop myself and be seen as an asset, even in times of frustration.

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