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Sep 20 2013

What’s the Good Word?

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“You’re great! I really appreciate the work you do.” Recently a worker, we’ll call her Sheri, at a local business told me she was tired of hearing that. I was a bit surprised; after all, who wouldn’t like to hear a few encouraging words from a supervisor. I asked why these seemingly good words bothered her.

“It would be okay if I didn’t hear it several times a day.”

“Maybe he’s just really impressed with your work,” I said.

“His actions don’t show that. He doesn’t seem to be at all grateful. It’s like he just thinks that will get me to work even more.”

This is an all too common problem, especially with junior supervisors. Telling someone they do good work, or were especially effective at a particular task is good, but those good words should not be used as an attempt to incentivize a worker to do more. An employee who is doing good work probably doesn’t need a supervisor to get him or her to do more. In fact, if the employee begins to believe that’s what’s happening, those words can have the opposite effect.

If you genuinely appreciate the good work a team member does it’s appropriate to say so. It may also be appropriate to publically recognize that person. But none of that will matter if the recognition is not in line with the day-to-day actions of the supervisor.

Show how much you appreciate their work with actions as well as words.

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