Recipe for Work Wellness: Encouragement with dash of praise
Encouragement versus praise or encouragement and praise. Encouragement is about positive feedback. It’s about focusing on the effort instead of just the outcome. If you are the boss then getting the best from your employees is good for you and for them. A good manager knows how to do this by encouraging them in a way that is sincere and motivating.
Here are some tips to help you do that:
Learn what works for each employee. You know everyone is different in how they get their work done and what motivates them. These differences are actually an asset to your business.
Offer your help. But, let them maintain the control. Ask them “How can I help?” instead of just telling them what you would do or what they need.
If you do see an employee struggling, this is the time to put on your coaching hat. Help them to see the options they have for solving the issue. Walk them through a process to decide the next steps. This will not only encourage them by showing your confidence in them to solve the problem but sets them up to work through future problems themselves.
Little praise can go a long way. While we emphasize encouragement over praise as a good management tool, it doesn’t mean praise is never used. Well timed congratulations and recognition can give your employees a boost. Don’t ignore the little things; don’t just wait for the big accomplishments to point it out.
Thank You! It can be as simple as that. Your employee may get paid to do the job they are doing but saying thank you to them goes a long way to encourage them.
It's important to create a work environment that is positive. We know that the wellness, both physically and mentally, of your employees can mean the difference between the success or failure of your business. Building up your employees with useful encouraging interactions will go a long way to building that positive environment.
