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"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing -- that's why we recommend it daily."
--Zig Ziglar

SUSTAIN GOOD WORK

An employee has gone above and beyond the call of duty to complete a project, has worked especially hard to meet a deadline, has successfully handled a difficult customer, has made a noticeable performance improvement; it is a good idea to acknowledge the good work.

Use the following outline to plan a brief discussion with the employee. Or just keep this outline in mind and use it to organize your thoughts when any opportunity arises to spontaneously acknowledge good work.

Key Points

Pinpoint the acknowledgement

  • Briefly describe the behavior, action, effort or results that you are acknowledging. Saying, "You're doing a good job" is ambiguous and leaves open to the employee's interpretation exactly what it is you are praising.
  • Make sure the employee knows what is being praised and why it is important. Say, for example, "I appreciate what you've done with the filing system. It's so much easier to find the files you're looking for now. That will save the staff a lot of time."

Tailor it to the situation

  • A simple statement of encouragement for effort is something that should be done privately.
  • If the acknowledgement is for producing significant results, a more public recognition is in order.

Tailor it to the individual

  • People differ in how they like to be recognized. Some people prefer the limelight; praise them in public. Others prefer a quiet, low-key approach. Take these individual preferences for receiving praise into account.

Keep it positive and brief

  • Do not drag out the conversation, or the "ceremony." The purpose of the conversation is to recognize the employee for a specific effort or accomplishment, so do not bring up other issues that may dilute the acknowledgement.

Your Notes

Key point

How you will apply this key point to the situation at hand?

Pinpoint the acknowledgement

Tailor it to the situation

Tailor it to the individual

Keep it positive and brief