Much has been written about the impact of recognition and appreciation for teams from their leader. Lee Cockerell calls it the “free fuel.” David Novak calls it “the secret weapon to leading others.” Showing genuine appreciation for the efforts and contributions of others is a cornerstone of leadership, and I don’t feel like I could add a ton more to this conversation. And I know a lot of the folks that read this blog are technologists who are not managers or leading teams, so how can (and why would) you use this powerful tool? Let’s break it down.