Saturday, April 7, 2007

Leaders Reward

One of the fun parts of being in a leadership capacity is the ability to recognize good performance. Most businesses have a reward system in place that offers a bonus, plaque, etc., to reinforce positive behavior or actions. While these are effective and serve a purpose, there is another quality way to reward your employees for good performance. A simple "good job" or "thank you" can go a long way in letting someone know that you recognize his or her efforts and you are aware of the contributions the employee is making to the overall success of the organization. Through recognition and making an effort to catch people doing the right things a leader can reinforce positive actions and build morale while building the level of buy-in into their leadership.

If you want to try something fun, try making an effort to catch everyone in your operation doing something right on the same day. This can be a lot more difficult than one might think. It will take your time and attention, which is really what the act of personal recognition is all about. It is the fact that the leader invested a few minutes of their time to recognize individual performance and contributions. In many cases this simple process can make the difference between job satisfaction or conducting a job search. This action will also build additional equity with key performers on your team who will be willing to step up and offer their assistance when you need it due to unforeseen circumstances.

Make the time to recognize performance. Your folks will greatly appreciate the gesture.

I would like to hear back from you on your experience with this subject. Comment on how this experiment goes. Were you able to successfully complete the task? Did you get any unexpected reactions from those that you lead?

"I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among men the greatest asset I possess. The way to develop the best that is in a man is by appreciation and encouragement." Charles Schwab

"Note how good you feel after you have encouraged someone else. No other argument is necessary to suggest that one should never miss the opportunity to give encouragement." George Matthew Adams

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