Employee recognition for good performance is one of the simplest and easiest ways to encourage people to do their best work.

Employee recognition provides these 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. Managers often forget that praising employees, telling someone they are doing a good job, brings a smile and good cheer to everyone from the shop floor to even the top floor. Here are four quick and easy ways to praise.

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 direct praise is probably the most commonly used form of employee recognition. However, earshot, third-party, and formal recognition are also effective to encourage people to do their best work. Remember, most people feel they get too little recognition for what they do; very few feel over-recognized.

Do you want highly motivated people? See the Motivating: What Really Works handbook.  It's packed with solid, roll-up your sleeves tips to motivate everyone and prevent "that's not my job" syndrome.

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Copyright 2006-2008, Marcia Zidle. Will you have a bright future? you ready to make your organization stand out in the crowd in competing for customers, clients, funders or community awareness? Contact us and let us show you how to make that happen.

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