The concepts behind human motivation are consistent. People who feel good about themselves produce good results, and people who produce good results feel good about themselves. It’s a magical cycle.
If you want someone to feel good, reward him or her with a genuine compliment. (I emphasize the word ‘genuine’.) If you can’t find something good to say about someone, you must not be thinking hard enough.
When you catch people doing something right, they feel good. Very few people offer simple words of thanks in person, by email or by note, let alone offer positive recognition and acknowledgement. For those who do, the payoff is terrific. People feel good about their employment when they are recognized in a positive and genuine way. People feel good about their role in their personal and family lives when they are acknowledged for their contributions. Recognition is an inexpensive, effective way to motivate people. Whether you’re one year old, or one hundred and one years old, people are motivated by pride and vanity.
People remember how you make them feel. When you recognize someone doing something right, you create a positive lasting impression. Think of the last time someone offered you positive recognition. I’ll bet you felt great. It feels good to give and to receive genuine compliments. So why don’t we make it a part of our everyday relationships at work and at home?
Success is about relationships. Relationships are like bank accounts, where compliments, recognition and acknowledgement are the deposits. Sometimes you have to make a withdrawal – a reprimand or constructive criticism. If your relationship account has a healthy balance, you can afford these occasional withdrawals. When you give negative feedback, it will be well balanced if you also offer positive feedback regularly.
Regular praise is not a strategy meant only for the leaders of companies, clubs, organizations or families. Everyone can give praise to each other and begin creating an environment that is positive, appreciative and respectful. When energy is positive, behaviour is positive.
I empower you to reap the benefits of the power of praise by giving recognition and acknowledgment generously to the people in your life.
Penny Tremblay
