The Most Potent Reward

 
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The phrase "employee rewards" covers a lot. There's the formal compensation plan, including bonuses. Many companies also have formal recognition and incentive programs.

The odds are that you don't have much to say about any of those. If you're responsible for the performance of a group, though, you can deliver the most powerful reward of all: meaningful praise.

Praise is the boss's power tool. It's the way you encourage people to try something new or to keep doing something good. Here are four rules for using this powerful reward.

Praise the praiseworthy. Praise achievement, of course. But praise progress and effort and helping others.

Praise a lot. Try to have three times more positive interactions, including praise, encouragement, and support, than negative ones.

Praise promptly. The closer to what you're praising, the better.

Praise comfortably. Deliver praise in a way that's best for the person receiving it. Be sensitive to those people who prefer their praise in private.

Boss's Bottom Line

The most effective bosses praise a lot.

Wally's Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training. Click here to check it out.

 

 

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Comments

  • 9/14/2012 8:04 AM John Hunter wrote:
    I believe you are right. However, there are some people (me being one) who if I hear a bunch of praise that is lame I will then disregard any praise from that inaccurate (according to me) source.

    You could just accept the loss of those people, and do better than most managers. But you could do even better by making sure your praise suits those you are praising and doesn't strike them as pointless blather.
    Reply to this
    1. 9/14/2012 10:04 AM Wally Bock wrote:

      Thanks, John. I agree with that. You have to praise things worth praising and you have to adapt to the individual.


      Reply to this
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