Recognizing your employees' good work is a smart investment, and it costs so little. Appreciation improves morale, helps retain good employees and can actually come back at you.
We all need reinforcement. It sure feels good when I get your feedback on this column.
One reader's e-mail reminded me of the importance of recognizing others. His story about leaving his newsroom after twelve years -- one of several to leave in just a few years -- saddened me.
It wasn’t the pay. It wasn't the long hours. He left because he felt that no amount of commitment and good work satisfied his supervisor. Even the newsroom's journalism awards went unnoticed.
Low morale results in costly turnover. It is hard to fill open positions and tough to get the work done with a limited staff.
And it just doesn't take much time to say, "Thank you for your good work."
I still carry a wallet-sized card summarizing the core values of a course I took years ago called "Interpersonal Managing Skills." Of the five skills I learned in that seminar, the most memorable one was crediting others.
For praise to be real and have meaning, crediting should mention:
- The specific qualities the person showed in the performance.
- What resulted from the employee's actions.
- How it benefited you, the department and the organization.
When you see good work and you want it to continue, take time to follow these tips on crediting. Be specific. Mention how those attributes contributed to the news, to the department, or even to making your day better.
Morale doesn’t have to be at an all-time low. Recognition doesn't cost a lot of money. You just have to pay attention and take the time to say "thank you" in a meaningful way. It may be how you keep a good employee.
I know how it feels to work somewhere where the...
