Linnaea Newman

My husband and I adopted a child for a  "Lunch with Santa" party this week, and had a great time shopping for a special toy within the preset $20 limit.  We finally found a $19.99 radio controlled truck for the young boy who had been paired with us, and looked forward to giving it to him after the hotel luncheon that we were also signed up to provide.  What struck me most about "Blake" was that after receiving the catered lunch and time with Santa, Christmas cookies, candy canes, AND a radio controlled truck WITH batteries, he never said "thank you" for any of it.  I wrote it off as being due to his tender age, as he ran off with his mother (the Event Planner of the Holiday Inn we were using for the occassion).  Then Mom came back to ask us for an additional attachment for the truck, and SHE never said "thank you" either. 

It started me thinking about an item I had read in USA Today years ago, and never forgot:  that most people prefer sincere appreciation for a job well done to a monetary reward.  I had to agree.  I would have much prefered a "thank you" from either Blake or his mother to a refund for the truck and lunches.

The holiday season can be grueling to our employees as they scramble to cover short work weeks, tempermental poinsettias, and bad weather, so the very least we can give them is a sincere "Thank You" for a job well done.  To make it especially valuable to the recipient,

1.  Make it specific.  Mention the actual task performed, "I appreciate the way you keep your work vehicle clean and organized during this hectic time." rather than using an all encompassing, "Good Job!"

2.  Make it personal.  Notice the contributions each person makes to the overall results of the team, "Your innovative method of scheduling holiday installations allowed us to complete them all on time with no overtime hours required.  Thanks for enabling us all to be home with our families for the holidays."

3.  Make it immediate.  Don’t wait for a special occassion or the next annual review to appreciate an employee, because the behavior you praise is reinforced, and will, therefore, be repeated.  "Thanks for showing up on time each and every day.  That lets us know we can count on you to get your work done." 

Remember how good it feels to hear someone say "thank you" for a special effort?  Then, find lots of ways to use it on others, because  efforts reinforced with appreciation are the ones that will be repeated.  The reverse is also true.