Keep your Praise of Employees Fresh and Exciting

Leader’s Digest Quick Tips

Praise isn’t as simple as telling employees “Good job!” all the time. It takes a certain amount of expertise to give praise that really motivates people to keep working hard—or start working harder. Try these techniques for showing your appreciation more effectively:

·    Mix public and private expressions of praise. Most employees enjoy being recognized for good work in front of their peers; others grow self-conscious and shy. Pay attention to how people respond so you can praise them accordingly. Even if an employee likes public praise, make a point of delivering it one on one sometimes to show you really mean it.

·    Measure your praise appropriately. If you say “Excellent!” every time an employee performs a relatively minor task successfully, what will you say when he or she accomplishes something really important? Don’t go overboard; thank employees for doing a good job, but save lavish praise for significant achievements.

·    Don’t be too predictable. Though you don’t want to hoard your praise, delivering it the same way all the time will lead employees to expect it, and it’ll lose much of its power. Send a handwritten note, not just an email, or make an announcement in the middle of the day instead of always waiting for the next staff meeting. Praise works best when it’s a pleasant surprise.

·    Change your patterns. As employees grow and change, their needs will shift. You may praise a new hire often, but a veteran might perceive frequent expressions of appreciation as patronizing or intrusive. Be sensitive to what employees need at different points in their careers.