Giving praise to others is a great motivator. When we perform a job well, we all appreciate being recognized for our efforts. One of the top reasons employees leave jobs is lack of recognition.
Whether we’re praising our children, a team member or an employee, there is a right and wrong way to praise someone.
It is important to be specific. “The XYZ project you completed was great. You finished it on time, and it included everything I asked for.” Or “I see that you grew your team by 10 this month! That was an amazing accomplishment. You recruited some quality team members, and more than anyone else in the company.”
Don’t save praise for the weekly staff meeting. Deliver the praise immediately when you observe positive behavior. Certainly you can repeat the praise during the staff meeting, which may indeed encourage others to strive for recognition as well.
Praise is powerful when it is used properly, but certainly not when it is not genuine or truly earned. Instead of criticizing those who perform poorly, in many situations, encouragement may raise them up to work harder. Look for small things they are doing right, and let them know you noticed it, no matter how small, and tell them how much you appreciate it.
When someone is doing their job properly, even if it isn’t exceptional, acknowledging their performance and letting them know how glad you are to have them working with you can spur them on to put in even more effort.
Leaders should always be developing new leaders. Don’t wait for something great to happen, look for positive behaviors throughout the day. Don’t take work performed well for granted. Seek out those who are stepping beyond their job description or those who are helping others without being asked to do so. It can also help to praise people in the presence of others. It can help the recipient of that praise to feel as though they truly matter, and it can encourage others to want to earn that praise as well.
If you use praise often and properly, it can help to grow your child into a responsible adult, help you build a strong, quality team or improve employee retention and performance at your company.
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