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Harvey Mackay
Column
For the week
of November 29, 2010
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Say Thanks to
Your Employees
Don MacPherson is co-founder
and President of Modern Survey, a human capital measurement company
which, among other things, conducts employee engagement surveys.
Their research has shown that recognition and appreciation is
the top driver of employee engagement.
Perhaps it seems elementary,
but Don says if you want employees who are fully engaged, you
need to ensure they are recognized when they do great work and
that they know you appreciate their contributions to the organization.
Don is so convinced of the importance
of his findings that he takes his own advice to a high level.
"One of the ways I let our employees know how much they
are appreciated is through my Thanksgiving routine," he
says. "It is by far my favorite day of the year to work.
I get to the office by 8 a.m. and start calling each employee. |
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"During those calls I let
them know how thankful I am that they choose to spend their days
at Modern Survey. I mention at least one special contribution
they have made to the company over the previous few months. I
let them know how much I am looking forward to doing great things
with them in the months and hopefully years ahead. I want them
to know I am so grateful they are a part of our team that I am
willing to work my holidays for them. It makes for an exciting
and emotional morning, and I always feel fulfilled once I have
made my last call."
Then Don goes a step further.
"After I am finished calling
each employee, I call clients, my closest friends, and my immediate
family members," he said. "I thank the clients (mostly
on voicemail) for their support and loyalty. My friends and family
are thanked for being a part of my life and for helping make
me who I am."
I wonder if Don makes it home
in time for Thanksgiving dinner! For the record, Modern Survey
has 23 employees, making his session relatively manageable. But
it's the creativity and the personal touch that intrigue me.
Employee recognition is a fundamental
concept in successful companies. Thanksgiving is a very appropriate
time of year to express your gratitude for loyalty, hard work
and a positive attitude. Holidays present a terrific opportunity
to thank employees -- but they certainly aren't the only time
of year to let your staff know what their efforts mean to the
company.
Recognition consultants Adrian
Gostick and Chester Elton, authors of "The 24-Carrot Manager"
and "A Carrot a Day," say recognition is most effective
when it is:
- Positive. Managers should not use recognition
events as "a time to talk about how far someone has come,
or how they could have done even better." Keep comments
positive.
- Immediate. "The closer the recognition to the
actual performance the better."
Close. "Recognition is best presented in the employee's
work environment among peers."
- Specific. "Point out specific behaviors that
reinforce key values."
- Shared. "Recognition that means the most
often comes from peers who best understand the circumstances
surrounding the employee's performance. Peers, as well as managers
and supervisors, should be able to comment during the presentation."
Let me add a few lessons from
my own experience. Recognition doesn't have to be costly or elaborate.
A hand-written note is a rare commodity in most businesses today,
but it's one of my favorite ways to let staffers know their dedication
is appreciated. Acknowledge the "little" things --
an employee whose can-do attitude sets a positive tone, the person
who never sees a setback but a new opportunity. Celebrate group
efforts too -- as I like to say, "The boat won't go if we
all don't row."
Perhaps you've detected a theme
here. As a manager, you are only as effective as the people you
supervise. These are not mere employees working for you; they
are people who can find other places to work if they feel undervalued.
Don't assume employees know how
much you appreciate their efforts just because they still have
a paycheck. Never waste an opportunity to say thank you.
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Mackay's Moral: |
You may not spend your Thanksgiving
like Don MacPherson, but really, is Thanksgiving limited to only
one day a year? |
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The Author  |
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Harvey Mackay is a nationally
syndicated columnist for United Feature Syndicate. His weekly
articles appear in 52 newspapers around the country, including
the Chicago Sun Times, Rocky Mountain News, Orange County Register,
Minneapolis Star Tribune and Arizona Republic.
http://www.mackay.com/
Copyright, Harvey Mackay. All rights reserved. |
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