Management Information

Recognition: A Quick, Low-cost Way to Motivate Employees


Recognizing good performance through praise or other positive action is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to motivate people. It provides three major benefits:

  • It lets people know that their performance was valued, and increases the likelihood that they will continue to perform well.
  • It builds confidence so that people are willing to try new things, and develop further in their jobs.
  • It leads to greater job satisfaction which in turn builds commitment to the manager and the employer.
  • Don't underestimate the need people have for recognition. Any occasion when recognition could have been given but wasn't, for whatever reason, is a missed opportunity. Here are four ways to encourage good performance:

    Direct Praise. Give a subordinate a direct compliment for good performance.
    Example: "John, you did a great job of dealing with that travel agent this morning. She was being difficult, but you stayed very calm."

    Earshot. Tell someone else about a subordinate's performance so that he or she overhears you.
    Example: (Near Peter's office, so he overhears) "Dennis, why not ask Peter about budget revisions. He handles that kind of problem really well."

    Third-Party Recognition. Encourage someone else to offer recognition for good performance.
    Example: "Sheila, it was Tony who made sure we completed our agenda yesterday. Why don't you tell him how well he did?"

    Formal Recognition. Respond to good performance by doing something official.
    Examples: Memos to other (colleagues, your manager, upper management, personnel file or mention at a staff meeting or management meeting;

    Giving positive feedback through direct praise is probably the most commonly used form of recognition in management situations. However, earshot, third-party, and formal recognition are equally effective at publicizing the success of an individual to others whom he or she respects. Remember, most people feel they get too little recognition for what they do; very few feel over-recognized.

    Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job ­ to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management. Subscribe by going to http://leadershiphooks.com/ and get the bonus report "61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers". Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks ­ resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs ­ fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today. Contact Marcia at 800-971-7619.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Los Angeles Times

    Risk Management Needed for Energy Loan Guarantees, Report Says
    Bloomberg
    The US Energy Department's loan programs may end up losing $2.7 billion, less than the agency or Congress projected, according to an independent analysis sought by the White House in response to Republican pressure. The potential long-term loss on 30 ...
    Post-Solyndra review urges better energy loan managementThe Hill (blog)

    all 211 news articles »


    New York Times

    Financial Briefing Book
    Wall Street Journal
    Apollo Global Management LLC's fourth-quarter profit slid 95% from a year earlier as the buyout firm's revenue slid. Apollo reported a profit of $11 million, or five cents a Class A share, down from a year-earlier profit of $206.3 million, ...
    Apollo Global Management, LLC Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter ...MarketWatch (press release)
    Apollo Fourth-Quarter Profit Falls 66% on Market SwingsBusinessWeek
    Apollo earnings fall on mark-downsReuters
    Fox Business -New York Times
    all 47 news articles »


    Business Insider

    List Of Pepsi Managers Who Have Left The Company
    Business Insider
    It's not news that PepsiCo has suffered a lot of management churn in the last few years, and that sales of some brands have been hurt as the company has lost its focus. But it's not until you see the list of senior brand management names who have ...
    PepsiCo to Cut 8700 Jobs, Reduce Management Layers in Global Productivity DriveIndustryWeek
    PepsiCo Announces Strategic Investments to Drive GrowthMarketWatch (press release)
    PepsiCo Cuts Jobs, Plans Culture ChangeFINS

    all 590 news articles »


    Carrington Capital Management, American Home Mortgage Servicing Announce ...
    MarketWatch (press release)
    Resolution of Carrington Asset Holding, LLC, ET Al. Plaintiffs, v. American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc., Defendant SANTA ANA, CA, Feb 10, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Carrington Capital Management, LLC ("Carrington"), a subsidiary of Carrington ...

    and more »


    Spend Management Experts Wins Supply & Demand Chain Executive Award
    MarketWatch (press release)
    ATLANTA, GA, Feb 10, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Spend Management Experts today announced that founder and CEO John Haber has received the Supply & Demand Chain Executive's 2012 "Pros to Know" award in the provider category.

    and more »


    Advanced task managers on iOS
    CNET (blog)
    by Jason Parker February 10, 2012 12:00 PM PST Follow @jparkerCNET There must be hundreds, if not thousands, of to-do-list management apps in the iTunes App Store, but which one should you choose? I found a couple of new task management apps recently ...

    and more »


    Waste Management Employee Who Works Tirelessly to Save Dogs Receives Top ...
    MarketWatch (press release)
    10, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- As part of its annual recognition of community service, Waste Management of Michigan/Ohio has selected Deanna West of Lake Orion, Michigan to receive its most prestigious community award as "Volunteer of the Year" ...

    and more »


    Schultze Asset Management Founder George Schultze Delivers Key Comments in ...
    MarketWatch (press release)
    10, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- George Schultze, Founder and Managing Member of Schultze Asset Management, LLC ("SAM"), was a key speaker today in Harvard Business School's Creating Value Through Corporate Restructuring course taught by Professor ...

    and more »


    MiamiHerald.com

    Oracle to Pay $1.9B for Taleo, Extends SAP Rivalry
    ABC News
    Oracle Corp. is escalating its rivalry with German business-software maker SAP AG with a $1.9 billion purchase of Taleo Corp., a company that helps businesses hire and manage their employees. The proposed purchase announced Thursday extends Oracle's ...
    Oracle to pay $1.9 billion for personnel software company, extends rivalry ...Washington Post
    News Analysis: The Implications Of Oracle's Acquisition Of TaleoForbes
    Oracle Buys Taleo for $1.9 Billion, Adds Human-Resource ToolSan Francisco Chronicle
    Data Center Knowledge
    all 482 news articles »


    Reuters Blogs (blog)

    Why Mark Zuckerberg shouldn't listen to management gurus
    Reuters Blogs (blog)
    Any company, in the wake of an IPO, finds itself growing new and previously-unnecessary layers of management, especially in areas like the general counsel's office, investor relations, and public relations. But for the Welches, that's not enough: extra ...
    Resisting the Facebook NationMotley Fool

    all 367 news articles »

    Google News

    home | site map
    © 2006