When did you last tell one of your employees what a great job they were doing? This article explains why positive employee feedback is so important for the success of your business, how and when to give praise, and how to get the most benefit from doing so.
Why positive feedback fuels high performance
Giving positive employee feedback has long been recognised as a critical element in high‑performing workplaces. But many managers still don’t feel comfortable doing it. They say it takes too much time, feels insincere or “too soft”, or just gets in the way of day-to-day activities.
What they may not realise is that few actions will do more to build trust and boost morale than giving ongoing, sincere feedback of a positive nature.
Human beings have an innate need to seek feedback on how we are doing. Without it, we tend to make up information – almost always negative – to fill the void. Giving positive feedback prevents destructive “information gaps” and strengthens relationships between employees and their supervisors. It also leads to improved work quality, increased accountability and a higher‑performing work environment.
Know when and how to compliment your staff
The time to give positive feedback is when an employee accomplishes something that goes beyond the everyday expectations of their job.
For example, praise employees when they:
- turn a difficult customer into a promoter of your business
- develop or make a significant contribution to another colleague’s project
- create a new process, product or approach
- present an idea for doing something differently (even if the idea is not implemented)
- do an exceptional job of influencing internally or externally
- excel at a presentation
- participate significantly in a community event on behalf of the company.
Giving positive feedback lets employees know that you’re paying attention and that you appreciate their efforts. Taking a few moments to express your appreciation can have a powerful impact on employees’ self-esteem and their attitudes toward their work and the organisation as a whole.
How to make the most of positive employee feedback
To maximise the effect, make your positive feedback:
- Immediate. Give recognition as soon as possible after the event.
- Specific. State exactly what the employee did that met or exceeded your expectations.
- Impactful. Explain how the event or behaviour affected you, the team or the organisation.
- Encouraging. Focus on the positive only. Be appreciative without mentioning other things that might need to change or be adjusted. These should be saved for times when you are giving constructive feedback.
- Focused. State how the performance or action was positive and contributed to success. This will help prevent other messages, often made up, from taking the employee off track.
Don’t praise employees for showing up on time or doing the basics of their job.
Never give positive employee feedback unless you mean it. Insincere positive feedback will just make recipients wonder what your real agenda is or what you are trying to hide. And the next time you give legitimate praise it will have far less impact.
Positive feedback with Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y
The time has come to jettison the “sandwich” technique, whereby you say something positive, sneak in something you want the employee to do differently, and then finish with a positive. For years, this approach was used to soften the impact of critical feedback, and it worked reasonably well with Baby Boomer and Traditionalist workers.
Generation Xers, however, quickly see through this strategy and openly question the hidden agenda behind the positive feedback. And the youngest generation, the Millennials (Generation Y), are so accustomed to direct – and often brutal – feedback that they don’t see the point of trying to sneak positive feedback into a constructive feedback conversation.
So keep your positive feedback positive, focus on specific events and behaviours that exceed your expectations, and let employees know how much you appreciate their efforts. You’ll improve morale and enhance trust while encouraging higher levels of performance. And today’s stressed-out employees will appreciate your efforts to meet their workplace needs.
By Terry Irwin, CEO of TCii: www.tcii.co.uk
