The True Power of Making Others Feel Special

Signing day for new employees can make them feel special

Recently, I attended a ceremony honoring more than a dozen high school graduates who transitioned from co-op students to full-time employees. At just 16, these students began balancing school with real-world work experience — and now, they were courageously stepping into the next chapter of their lives.

Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments. - Rose Kennedy

The setting had a corporate backdrop, a simple clothed table, and a single chair. One by one, these new hires signed their letters of employment with a chorister that consisted of mentors, parents, and siblings. There were no flashing lights or post-signing interviews. ESPN was not there, and there were no sightings of Mel Kiper. Instead, there was genuine pride, determination, and an infrastructure of support to move forward.

Amplification of signing day for high school athletes

For years, I have watched this kind of ceremony for high school athletes student at their now-famous signing days for high school choosing colleges. Often, these events felt less about hard work and more about glorification. With flashy productions and dramatic announcements between a table of different colored hats, all eyes were on one teenager.

To many, these moments portrayed a rewarded entitlement rather than humility. Indeed, some of these athletes are incredibly driven. However, others were born with natural talents enhanced by expensive private coaching. The ceremonies often feel more like a celebration of ego than of earned achievement. But, I think I have missed the objective.

Establishment of signing day for new employees

When the company began planning the ceremony for the new hires, a leader suggested signing day experience but tempered. Honestly, I hesitated. Would this be a form of self-indulgence? Would we be reinforcing the wrong values? But the team pressed on carefully and crafted a celebration. They invited families, mentors, and significant others. They designed the day not for spectacle but for a desired intent.

As the ceremony unfolded and seemed to be successful, I went around congratulating each new hire personally. There was gratitude in every response, and the comments were sincere. The magnitude of the experience quickly shifted when I congratulated one young man who was there with his grandfather. With a physique not possessed by any high school athlete yet with a Sunday best attire, I asked a question. "Tell me — how did it feel, standing up there, with everyone behind you, signing your contract?"

I braced myself for sarcasm, maybe even mockery of the signing day event. Instead, he smiled and said, "It made me feel special." His response was raw, sincere, and rang with gratitude. His tone told the story of appreciation to those who helped him get there, while his eyes told the story of someone who is ready to prove even more in the next chapter. His response reminded me of the importance of making people feel special, and he was determined to make those who supported him even prouder.

Feeling special isn't about the giver. It's about the receiver.

We often talk about leadership and the importance of recognition and celebration. However, real connection happens when we honor how the other person experiences the moment. Just like a conversation needs both a speaker and a listener, an act of kindness needs both an initiator and a receiver to be complete.

It is not our place to judge whether someone deserves to feel special. As leaders, our responsibility is to create the opportunity for them to feel seen, valued, and important.

We never really know the full journey someone has taken to reach where they are today. Every milestone, no matter how small it may seem from the outside, carries a story of struggle, perseverance, and hope. When we shift our focus away from how we feel about giving recognition and to how they feel about receiving it, we unlock something indomitable. We create the ability to make others feel deeply special and leave a lasting impact for them to do the same for someone else.