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The positive power of praise By Joan Lloyd From bizjournals.com Do you want to improve morale, increase productivity and just be more fun to work with? Master the art of praise. Delivering a motivational pat on the back is an art form. Talk about people behind their back. That's right; go ahead and talk to a peer about a mutual colleague's good work on a project, how the person helped you, or how he or she is a pleasure to work with. We spend plenty of time grousing about those who don't pull their weight or who screw things up. Why not create some positive energy about people who are terrific? Consider the benefits...you feel good about spreading the word, others learn about the kind of behavior you value, the person eventually hears what you've been saying about him or her and others think more highly of you for giving credit where it's deserved. It's a great way to magnify a compliment. However, you can't stop here. Telling someone else is great but a compliment will never have the same impact as hearing it from you, directly. It's like a friend I know, whose parents only praise him to other people. He told me, "It's nice that my folks tell other people how proud they are of me, but every once and a while, it would be nice to hear it from them myself." Praise them within earshot. I once had a great boss who did this with flair. He was always aware of who was sitting close enough to hear his comments as he moved through the work group, delegating assignments or advising someone on how to make things better. He would never make corrective comments in public places but was quick to talk openly -- even loudly -- about our contributions and skills. For example, I remember him saying, "If you have trouble with this section of the report, go ask Joan. She's really got a knack for writing and she'll be able to help you." Of course, I was sitting 10 feet away and was delighted to hear the praise. Also, he was careful not to shower praise on one person more than others, which kept the balance. Compliment them in front of someone else who has influence. Last week I checked out of the hospital after undergoing an elective but major surgery. I was impressed with the quality of care I received, especially during the first few days of recovery, when I was really hurting. As I was packing my things to leave, I hugged the nurse and told her how much I appreciated her care. When my doctor came into the room to release me, I mentioned how the nurse, "Treated me like a wounded kitten. She anticipated my needs and said such comforting things. She helped me to relax and just focus on getting well." The nurse stood, speechless. While I know she appreciated my earlier compliment, praising her in front of one the doctors had more lasting value. Praise them in front of their families. Everyone wants to be a hero at home. A well-deserved compliment, told to an employee's children or spouse, will be treasured. We want our family members to know how hard we work and how skilled we are outside of our roles as a mom, dad or child. So, at the company picnic tell your star employee's spouse how much you appreciate the work he did on that last big project or how you value his experience and counsel. The praise will reflect back on him through the eyes of the person whom he wants to impress most. Be detailed in your praise. Managers go to seminars on how to deliver negative feedback, using specific examples, but we rarely hear about how to deliver praise so it has a maximum affect. Praise is an important motivator for many people, so why not do it wisely? Take a moment and elaborate on exactly what you liked. Thank them for things others may take for granted. Does your employee have a flawless attendance record? Does he develop lasting partnerships with internal or external customers? Too often, we only pay attention to these things when they're missing. Then, of course, we are quick to point out the need to improve. Why not mention how much you appreciate them now? The number one reason people leave their jobs (according to hundreds of exit interviews we've reviewed, as well as reported by a recent study in the Wall Street Journal) is because they didn't feel their contribution was appreciated or valued. Don't make people ask for compliments. Adults will never tell you they want more praise. It makes them feel too needy and childish. Instead they will signal it in a thousand ways. Here are a few:
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