Giving positive feedback and appreciation to employees helps them buy into the company and work harder. (Photo: Alan Clemons)
Do you tell your employees thank you, good job, and how much you appreciate them?
After a few days at the Sig Sauer Academy in July for a new product unveiling and some range training, throughout the day and at evening meals the Sig brass never failed to thank their co-workers.
The Academy staff and instructors are associated with a variety of alphabet organizations. They've traveled around the world, working in teams in some way to get a mission or job completed. One man doing a job still needs someone who helped provide intel. A team must work together, whether it's on a beach in PT or in a crappy situation in some area of the world we never know of or hear about.
Sig's marketing and event staff perform myriad behind-the-scenes duties to make sure any event runs smoothly. From hosting a media or dealer event at the manufacturing plant and Academy to something massive such as SHOT Show, little details matter.
That kind of appreciation from the brass expressed publicly and privately is what helps build teamwork, relationships, better working conditions and, ultimately, a better experience for everyone.
The same is true about you and your employees.
If you're a micromanager who nitpicks, has to find fault with something every time so you can prove you're "the guy" and who maybe only grudgingly gives out praise publicly or privately, I'll say this: Your employees probably hate you and only are clocking time for the check.
They won't go the extra mile. If their hours are 8 to 5, they'll be there from 8 to 5. Why would they give extra for someone who doesn't reciprocate? I've been in that situation and it's terrible. At some point you become a robot while seeking another job.
But if you're a benevolent dictator who listens, praises, gives constructive criticism, disciplines privately when necessary, respects others, and makes decisions that help the company (despite maybe being tough), your employees likely will respond well. They'll go the extra mile. They'll have pride in the company and show it to others.
Postive workplaces begin at the top with the boss and managers, and that trickles down to the staff.
