Catch your staff doing something right
This is a FANTASTIC Christmas present for your staff, your work
colleagues and your boss. But don't make it a 'once a year wonder'.
How often do you give your staff, or work colleagues, or your boss -
positive feedback? How often do you 'catch them doing something
right'?
We work with a range of organisations, small and large, in the public
and private sectors and overwhelming the most common concern we hear
is 'they always tell me when I've done wrong...they never tell me
when I've done right'. We hear this comment from ALL levels of the
organisation.
Giving people genuine and positive feedback on their work performance
can really motivate people - and it can make the giver feel good too.
It's sad there's such a lack of it in our organisations. Many of
these organisations have, as part of their mission statement,
something about 'we value our staff' yet staff are often not feeling
valued, recognised or appreciated.
How do you give the people at work positive feedback on their
performance? It must be - genuine, timely, succinct and specific.
Genuine - ensure your feedback is not just flattery. People can
see through this and become less enchanted with the organisation.
Timely - give the feedback when it occurs. Don't wait for the
yearly performance review meeting. This will have no meaning and may
have a detrimental impact.
Carefully choose the time and place. Some people enjoy a big fuss
- feedback at the monthly staff meeting, or at the Christmas dinner.
Others would 'just die' if given this much public exposure. Know your
staff and work colleagues and choose the most appropriate time and
setting.
Succinct - get to the point. Don't drag it out. Don't give them
the feeling that you are feeling awkward. This is THEIR moment.
Specific - let the person know EXACTLY what it is you appreciate.
Ensure the feedback is behaviour-based. Tell them how their actions
have positively impacted the team, the section, the organisation.
A client was recently told by her manager that her latest report was
'lovely, wonderful, innovative..'. While this is very welcome
feedback she still doesn't know exactly what she did that so
impressed her manager.
Our clients are often 'catching us doing something right' - and we
really appreciate it. So, please don't stop.
And feedback from us at Realisations Consultancy ...we have
thoroughly enjoyed working with so many wonderful, interesting and
genuine people throughout 2008. The biggest thrill we get (at work
that is) is when our clients tell us about the great successes they
have in the workplace as a direct result of our carefully customised
seminars. Thank you!
Have a FANTASTIC Christmas and New Year! Genevieve, Megan and
Michele
The team at Realisations Consultancy
