Becoming a Better Boss Secret 1: Show Appreciation!

Celebration is an important task for any leader. It is also one that often gets pushed to the side – who has the time? This is not about having a party – it is about expressing appreciation to your employees for the work they do as they do it. Everyone needs to feel appreciated. Here are simple tips that won’t take much time.

FOR INDIVIDUALS – FOCUS ON PRAISE

Praise is one of the easiest rewards you can give and it is a motivator for everyone when done right. By simply pointing out something that someone did and letting them know you appreciated it, you are reinforcing behavior that you want to see again. By recognizing desired performance, you teach what you value, and what is important.

Remember to praise:

• Specifically: praise people for specific accomplishments.
• Spontaneously: catch people doing something right and thank them then and there.
• Purposefully: take an employee to lunch or dinner.
• Privately: give a personal thank you and praise.
• Publicly: praise an employee in the presence of others.
• In writing: send a letter, memo, or e‐mail. Possibly send a copy to a team member’s higher-level manager!

 FOR TEAMS – FOCUS ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Identify the major accomplishments of the team over a specific time period.
• Have each team member discuss their personal experience in working with the team.
• Ask team members to acknowledge their teammates who made contributions.
• Find ways to accentuate and advertise your team’s positive results, every day!
• Throw a party! Order a cake, plan a luncheon, organize a fun event and show appreciation to the whole team. 

FOR ALL – A NOTE ABOUT REWARDS

It’s best that a supervisor has an inventory of different types of rewards. Remember these important rules:

1. If an employee expects it, it may no longer be viewed as a reward.
2. Rewards need to match your employee’s needs and wants. Many managers wrongly assume that every employee likes or wants the same kinds of rewards and recognition.
3. After you put your employee reward system into place, you need to check periodically to ensure it is producing the results intended. If it isn’t, you need to change it.
4. The best reward – no question – is specific targeted appreciation. “You did a great job in facilitating that meeting! You politely kept people on task, on subject, and ended on time. Nice work.”

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