People Business - Giving Recognition by Ken Wright

Written by: The manager thinks people want to feel important, the leader knows people need to feel significant.
Recognition is the number one thing people desire.

Creating a positive motivational mood amongst your team is a key to getting people to follow your leadership.  Being noticed for their efforts and given some recognition for their contribution is a major motivator.

Many leaders do not realise the power they generate by simple acts of recognition.  Our best teacher or best boss built our confidence and self esteem by making us feel great.

1.    Be Creative
Look for creative ways to give recognition to everyone on your team.  Don’t just recognise the top performers, in the words of the One Minute Manager…..
“Catch Someone Doing Something Right and Tell Them About It”

2.    Daily Recognition
There are many ways to ensure you and your team of leaders create a habit of daily recognition.
Create one that works for you and stick at it.  

3.    Praise Specifically
When giving praise do not generalise, make it specific and meaningful:
You’ve made my day because…
You really make a difference by…
What an example to the team when you…
You can be really proud of yourself for…
You deserve a TaDa for…

4.    Involve the Family
Putting family values in your company and really caring about your employees and their families will reward you ten-fold with loyalty and commitment.
Post a card home praising your hard working employees and acknowledging their support. Include with this card, movie tickets, a dinner voucher or shopping voucher for partners.
Be a leader that looks for the good in your team members and acknowledges them in a timely feeling way.

“People will forget what you do, they will forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel”
Carl Buechner