Who Have You Encouraged?

Studies and surveys show the lack of appreciation and encouragement among the top reasons employees leave a job. In an economy going through rocky times, it is very important for everyone in the workplace to recognize and look for opportunities to encourage one another. Webster describes encouragement as: The rising of one’s confidence especially by external agency or to spur on. Motivating employees requires providing support and feedback to let them know the company values their efforts. Unfortunately, employees may only get negative feedback on a day-to-day basis. Supervisors tend to focus on what an employee is doing incorrectly, and miss opportunities to let them know what they’re doing well. All too often, the annual review is the only time an employee gets positive feedback.

Showing appreciation and encouragement should be a continual process, not just an “employee of the month” program. Lack of appreciation can lead to lack of morale, and motivating employees is easier if done pro actively rather than applied as a bandage to damaged morale. Two factors influence the success of a recognition program: frequency and presentation. 

Research profiled three companies, all considered to be top-flight places to work, with an emphasis on the employers’ attention to employees. These employers had one thing in common: “a philosophy to ‘give first, get second’. 

TCS practices the biblical principle of “treat others the way we would want to be treated”. We need to ask ourselves everyday, “Who have I given a word of encouragement to today?” In 2010, consider setting a goal for yourself to recognize and encourage the efforts of at least one employee each week. Motivating and encouraging employees means both managing and leading. Managing means allocating resources, scheduling training, and handling the other “impersonal” aspects of the job. Leading means facilitating communication, providing feedback, setting an example, and building a team environment.

During the days ahead in our stressful workplaces, we need to remember the words of Paul in the Bible “Encourage one another daily as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”