Manager's Minute 

When you've only got a minute for management you haven't got a minute to waste.

The POWER of Praise

Another week gone. It is amazing how time flies these days. I am sure that it used to be slower when I was a kid. Perhaps it's all this new technology that's causing a time warp.

Once there was a time that it took months for messages to get from one side of the world to the other. Now we can watch in "real time" activities taking place, as they take place, anywhere in the world. I'm not always sure that this is a good thing.

However, what is a good thing, and a very necessary thing, is to be on the look out for opportunities to praise your staff, and then to praise them as soon as possible. All too often we tend to view management's role as one of policeman and disciplinarian. While these are necessary parts of a managers job they are not the main function. The primary function of a manager is to get things done. In most businesses getting things done means using the skills and time of other people.

Now, we can say that they have an obligation to get things done, that's what we employed them to do. And we can say that if they don't we'll fire them, and we can, But what we really want is people who are willing to get things done the way that they ought to get done,

One of the best ways to get this is with praise. We should constantly be trying to catch people doing something right and then letting them know that we caught them at it.

Using the PRAISE process will reward you handsomely.

Make sure that you make the praise personal, especially if there is more than one person involved. Giving a general "well done team" carries very little weight but if you identify the team members individual contributions and compliment that then you will have made a meaningful impact.

Ensure that the praise reinforces the good behaviour. Just remember - What gets measured gets done. What gets reinforced gets repeated.

Keep the level of praise appropriate to the contribution and or performance. If the person has done what they are employed to do the way that it is supposed to be done then "Well done I am pleased with your work It's on time and accurate" is enough. If however their contribution makes a big difference to the business something like landing a large new account or designing a better process then more fuss is needed.

The quicker you can give praise the better. You might want to formalise the praise at a function but unless it's a competition, give the recognition immediately you become aware of it, Immediate praise has a great impact because it shows that you are paying attention. You also avoid the risk of losing the opportunity to praise. Sometimes you mean to praise someone, but don't, then they do something that you don't like and now you want to punish rather than praise.

When giving praise be specific. Mention the actual behaviour/performance that you are praising. Remember that praise must be reinforcing. So do not give a generic "Good Job" but be specific "I am pleased with the way that you handled the interview. You asked good questions and you had your information ready to answer questions."

Say it like you mean it. There is nothing worse than reluctant praise. It makes both the recipient and the giver feel bad. When you praise someone let them feel your positive emotions. Remember to keep your praise appropriate, going overboard cheapens the process and can easily been seen as sarcasm.

Change the way that you deal with our staff from policing to praising and watch the change.

That's it for today, I look forward to your comments and experiences related to this message. Mail them to me at johan@motivate.co.za

Regards

Johan

The Corporate Healer

PS: Please pass this message on to any of your business colleagues you feel may benefit from it.

You could help by letting me know what your most pressing/puzzling/frustrating management problems are. Just send a mail to johan@motivate.co.za

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Quote for the week

People who feel good about themselves do good work.

People who get acknowledged for doing good work feel good about themselves.

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Inconsequential Trivia

The term "To Fire" someone comes from a custom practised by landlords of old. When they wanted to give a tenant notice that it was time to move on they would set fire to the roof of his house. This was a very clear message that it's time for you to go.

To live your best life be true to the YOU, that you want to be.

Live with passion. Change your life from making a living to making a difference.

Live up to the reputation that you want to have.