Without your employees, you business wouldn’t be able to survive. So much so that you might even have taken out insurance on your key workers to ensure your business doesn’t take a hit financially if one of them tragically passes away (you can find further information here if you’re interested). But how can you show your appreciation for your employees to ensure they stay loyal to your company? When is it appropriate to praise your employees? Do you compliment them when they do what they’re supposed to do, or do you praise them when they go above and beyond?
The short answer is “yes.”
Everyone wants to be appreciated for their contributions, to know that what they do is valued by their employer. This not only improves the general working atmosphere in your company, but it also leads to better performance.
But people aren’t stupid. Fake praise will sound fake…and if you’re lying to them about their performance, what else are you lying to them about?
So what deserves a compliment?
Always – always – focus on and encourage the behavior you want. Simply saying “Good job” or “Well done” are a good beginning, but these statements sound meaningless and condescending. (I had a boss once who — bless his politically incorrect heart — would say to me, “Good girl!” like I was a golden retriever. “Arf! Arf!” I responded and eventually he got the hint.)
How to praise workers
How to give meaningful praise is all about being specific. The following tips work just as well at home as in the office.
- Sammy Slacker: For the person who does just the minimum to keep his job, catch him doing something right and praise him for doing it, as soon as you notice it.
“Sam, I noticed that you handled that irate customer very well,” you might say. “You asked him how you could make it better, you listened to him and you gave him what he wanted. Thank you. That’s the kind of customer service I want our company to be known for.”
It’s honest praise, and Sam knows it. He feels good about himself, good about what he did and good about you, his boss. And with enough attention to catching Sam doing the right thing, he could easily evolve into one of your best employees.
- Connie the Clock-Watcher: She gets into the office a minute before
the doors open, shuts down her computer 15 minutes early and has her purse in hand precisely at the close of business.
the doors open, shuts down her computer 15 minutes early and has her purse in hand precisely at the close of business.One day she accidentally gets into work a whole five minutes early.
Consider telling her, “Connie, it’s great that you came in a few minutes early today! It really helps us get ready for customers as soon as they walk in the door. We don’t have to spend the first 20 minutes of the day playing catch-up. Thanks, I appreciate it.”
Be careful, however, that you don’t lose sight of your top performers while you’re babying the under-achievers.
We tend to ignore our top people because they don’t need a lot of supervision. These are generally the top 20 percent of our employees, and they generally account for 80 percent of our success. They definitely need to know that you’re not taking them for granted.
How do you do that?
- Johnny on the Spot: “I just want you to know how much I appreciate the fact that you are such a take-charge guy. You saw the discrepancy in the vendor’s bill and talked to him about it without being asked. You saved the company some bucks. Thank you, John.”
- Diligent Debra: “Debra, you are such a hard worker…you always get the job done on time, and done well, without a lot of supervision. It’s also great to know that I can count on you to solve most problems that come up, because it frees me to do the things that my boss needs me to do. I appreciate all that you do.”
Praising your employees is a winning endeavor all the way around. You are paying attention to what’s going on in your workplace, and you’re communicating with your employees – two key elements to business success.
It does not take the place of a living wage, however, but being generous and honest with your praise will help keep your employees happy and productive.
What’s the thing you want to hear most from your boss, your clients or your loved ones? Please add your comments below.