Short Example of an Axiom

A major retail chain, our client, shared the results of a survey they gave to their employees.  It identified three major things that the employees desired: 1) Feedback, or input on how they were performing, 2) Recognition or appreciation for the work being done, 3) Communication about the organization’s performance and some opportunity for dialogue with the boss. 

Another client, a global spirits manufacturer, told me their employee survey generated the same results. In another survey of 39,000 employees, “appreciation” and “being in on things” ranked number one and two in employee “likes.”

Employees want and need recognition of their contributions.  Providing positive feedback on their performance can create positive employee attitudes.  It motivates them to produce more, and higher quality, work. Recognition does not demand large bonuses or commissions (but those are nice). It can be as simple as a few words. Some ways to recognize employees (We offer 60)

Nice job.                     You made my day.                      You keep improving.

Atta girl.                     Thanks.                                          You are really helpful. Thanks.

I appreciate it.           Good job.                                      Good idea.

Well done.                 Great effort.                                   I have confidence in you.

Example: The Lunch Break.  A supervisor of a manufacturing client called his 40 employees together and stated that they had never made 3,000 units in an eight-hour shift; if they did that today, with the same quality, he had a special surprise. The result? They made 3,000 in six hours!  

Example: The Garbage Men.  In Grand Rapids, Michigan I asked the City Manager, “How do you get Garbage Men to run?”  His answer? They were assigned an area for refuse collection.  When all pickups on the route were complete they could go home.  They were rewarded for their good work by going home earlier than a normal eight-hour shift.  The process was motivational.      

Example: The Manager who was also a wife.  A woman in our workshop said she regularly told her staff that she appreciated their work.  Then she volunteered that her husband had helped her do the dishes a couple of weeks earlier.  “I was about to say ‘thank you,’ in hopes that he would keep it up, but I thought, he should be doing the dishes anyway, that’s no big deal, so I said nothing.” That was the last time he dried the dishes.  I asked her, “If you thought that way about your husband doing the dishes, how do you feel about the people working in your department.  They ‘should’ be doing their work anyway so why bother saying thank you?”  Reality struck.  She realized she was not recognizing their work or showing appreciation.

 
Example: The Boss. And don’t forget your bosses like to be appreciated, too. If they give you something extra to do that expands work experience or offers a new opportunity, say, “Thank you.” If your boss is profiled in a newspaper or magazine, recognize the achievement and say something like, “Great article about you in the paper!” Your boss will feel good about the job they do and good about you. You may even be advancing your career.