Praise resonates more deeply when you express it just before and just after an employee takes on an assignment. When you delegate a project, offer a brief expression of support: "Jim, you're our expert on this, so I'm sure you'll do a good job,” or “Mary, with your work ethic and determination, I won't have to worry about this getting done right”. And when the employee completes the assignment successfully, acknowledge the fine work: “Ray, your sophisticated analysis really helped us beat the competition,” or “Jane, I appreciate you stepping in at the last minute and doing such fantastic work.”
- Praise also carries more weight when it's specific. Go beyond saying, “Good job,” and give details of what you admired most about the individual's work. Examples: “Good job staying calm with that irate customer,” “Great work answering all those phone lines when we were swamped this morning,” or “I'm so pleased that you trained those temps so quickly to use our new software.”
- Mix public and private praise. Save time in staff meetings to spotlight those employees who deserve kudos. Lead the group in a round of applause for your star employees, and ask them to stand and perhaps say a few words to the team. Their comments can prove just as inspiring as yours, especially if they thank their peers. Saluting outstanding performance lifts everyone's morale; even those workers who are not basking in applause will see that you value outstanding effort and they'll push harder to excel in the future.
Tip Nothing will inspire employees more than the opportunity to achieve personal goals that add meaning and excitement to their lives. Listen carefully to your employees and help them identify personal work goals that fit within the goals of the organization or work unit.
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