Page 24 - Twenty Four Lessons for Mastering Your New Role

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Don’t worry about praise

Exert “praise
motivation”

There’s no mystery to motivating employees. It’s all about express-
ing your sincere admiration for them. When they know that you
respect their effort, ability, and work product, they’re more apt to
enjoy their job and heed your directives.
Genuine praise is the ultimate energizer. Think how much more
motivated you’ve become when bosses have applauded your per-
formance. It’s a surefire way to build individuals’ confidence and
push them to excel even more.
The irony is that while most managers know praise serves as a
superb motivator, putting that knowledge to work often poses a chal-
lenge. Daily pressures, crises, and mishaps may make it hard for you
to feel positive about your employees. It’s easy to overlook what
they’re doing right when what goes wrong demands so much of your
time and attention.
Praise can take many forms. You can send nonverbal signals such
as a pat on the back, an approving nod, or the thumbs-up. Or you
can drop quickie comments that make an employee’s day such as,
“Fine work” or “You outdid yourself this time.”
There are more subtle ways to praise. For instance, you can ask
employees for their opinions. Preface your question by saying, “I’d
like to pick your brain” or “You can probably shed some light on this
for me.” Don’t hint what you want them to say. Just listen, and you’ll
make them feel important.

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