Ignition Australia March 2018 | Page 21

Delivering praise Key points to remember: How praise is delivered has a significant bearing on • Make an effort to be on the lookout for genuine effort and performance. its effectiveness. Gallup pointed out that only genuine achievements should be praised, and that empty • Only praise genuine performance. words had little or no value. 'Unearned praise can do • Praise the effort and process more than the result (very relevant for diagnostics). more harm to an individual and a workgroup than none at all,' was their conclusion. It not only prevents • negative feedback in the same conversation. employees from knowing when they need to improve, but it can diminish the impact of the genuine praise that is offered at other times. Applying praise in your business Don’t give praise and then follow it up with • Give constructive and negative feedback when required. However, if it’s more frequent than praise then staff performance and motivation is most likely to fall. There's little doubt that praising and recognising the Protect your best assets, your staff, with a little praise. efforts and achievements of others can bring about There's no better way to praise a talented young some very positive results in the workplace. Being apprentice than by nominating them for the Capricorn praised makes the recipient feel good about themselves Rising Stars Competition. Details on how to nominate and this can help to boost their performance. Praise can be found on page 28. provides the kind of positive experience or uplift that can increase employees' morale, motivation and engagement, and renew their commitment to the workshop. CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2018 21