Avionics News December 2011 - (Page 50)

series BUSInESS BASICS B y g r e g l A S l o a Job well done ary Kay Ash, the late pink-Cadillac makeup magnate, once made an interesting observation: “The two things people want more than sex or money are recognition and praise.” That makes this your lucky day. Before you turn off your shop lights for the night, you can create some very happy people. Everyone needs recognition and reassurance, and in the workplace, praise provides a litany of benefits, according to Kevin Eikenberry, author of Remarkable Leadership: Unleashing Your Leadership Potential One Skill at a Time. It gives employees pride in their jobs, generates enthusiasm and commitment, builds loyalty, keeps people from feeling like they are taken for granted, motivates them to go the extra mile and improves their relationship with supervisors and co-workers. Unfortunately, this would make you an oddball. Many managers apparently don’t get it. According to research by Gerald Graham, a professor of management at Wichita State University, six in 10 employees have never received praise from their manager, 75 percent have never received a written “thank you” and 81 percent have never received public praise. All the while, feeling appreciated is the greatest single factor in workplace productivity, according to Personnel Today magazine. The sad part is compliments are free. Indeed, a few minutes of effort can result in exponentially greater returns – especially when you keep a few tips in mind. All praise isn’t created equal, but effective praise includes seven essential elements. 1. Authenticity. The Center for Management and Organization Effectiveness reminds you that every person on your team does part of your job for you. Without them, 50 avionics news Seven Ways to Better Praise Your Employees it’s you upside down under a panel, right side up answering calls from customers and inside out hauling the trash. That’s a long day. Even one employee lightens the load. With this in mind, express praise like you mean it – and not just when your people hit home runs, but also 1. Authenticity when they plug along through the daily grind, committed to 2. Timeliness doing work the best they can. Otherwise, they have no way 3. Specificity to know whether or not their work is important to you and 4. Relevancy the organization. Consequently, pay special attention to what you say and 5. Openness how you say it. Remember the importance of tone. Sure, you 6. Attentiveness may thank someone during the day – it’s the polite thing to do 7. Fairness after they have given you their time and attention – but that’s different than really thanking them. Use a sincere, genuine approach. Flip-flop, and folks can’t tell the difference. They won’t receive the compliment, and you will think they are ungrateful. It’s best to use your “grown-up” voice when making the effort. Likewise, tune into your facial expression, body language and phrasing; this is special, so make it so. They need to feel and see that you mean it. 2. Timeliness. As a manager, you know the sooner you nip bad behavior, the better you will contain it. That’s how it works with praise, too. The time to recognize someone for doing something right is immediately after m • december 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News December 2011

Point of Communication
AEA Now
Before & After
The View From Washington
International News and Regulatory Updates
EFB Solutions
Member Profile
Homebuilders
The Top Avionics Sellers for 2011
A Conversation With...
Alphabets Advocating for Aviation
Meet the AEA Board
Member Profile
Business Basics
Theory & Practice
Meet the AEA Staff
Advertisers Index
AEA Members Make Headlines at NBAA Convention
What's New
Marketplace Classifieds

Avionics News December 2011