Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

Reward what we value 

On Thursday, Chicago Bears' linebacker Brian Urlacher received the Brian Piccolo Award for the second time. He received the award as a rookie in 2000 as well.

Brian Piccolo was a running back for the Bears who died of a rare form of cancer in 1970, whose story was told in the movie, "Brian's Song." The story highlights the friendship and support Piccolo and Gale Sayers had for each other. Sayers was a great Chicago running back.

The award is give to those who most exemplify what Brian Piccolo represented: courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor.

"This is a great honor for me, to receive this award again," Urlacher said. "The Piccolos are a great family. We know what Brian stood for. It's also wonderful award to have the opportunity to be a part of because it's a chance we get, as teammates, to honor one or another."

It's a good reminder for business leaders and managers to reward those attributes and actions that most represent what the company stands for.

We should make a big deal about handing out recognition for those attributes within our people that best represent our core values and mission.

The methods we use aren't nearly as important as having it communicated to the rest of our workers. We must continually reward what we most value as a company, as it reinforces that we mean what we say and value those who represent it best.