A praiseworthy quality

D. C. SHARMA

Who has not experienced the power of praise in one’s life and career? Most probably you must be the one! And yet you might not have as yet tried how to sharpen this most powerful tool, skill and art that can work wonders in your reputation as a successful manager too. To be a successful manager it is a must that you never ignore mastering this  art of praise. Here’s how you can do this:

1. Remember that praising is different from flattery.  Never forget that when you praise your employee to seek a favour, you are flattering them. But when you sincerely praise them you not only get more work done but they also start developing more faith and trust in you. 

2.Be genuine and you can do this by being specific about the work and qualities of a team member that are being appreciated. Making a sweeping general statement about good work and sincerity is not enough. If you specifically mention the positive work traits then your appreciation will carry more weight.  

3.Never procrastinate or delay your words of appreciation. As they say that you have to strike the iron when it is hot. SO as soon as a project is completed or a target is achieved, make it a point to commend those who contributed to it. This will add more feathers to your cap as a successful manager. In any case, your act of praise to uplift your employees would start working wonders once you start putting in the right gears at the appropriate time, place and situation.

4.Remember, praising your employees once in a blue moon does not bring the desired results. It rather creates a doubt in their minds that you are trying to grind your own axe to serve your own specific purpose. But when you become a frequent user of this art, it makes a much more powerful impact bringing more and more rewards in a short span of time. 

5.Your frequent use of praise to boost the morale of your employees pays more dividends when you intentionally try striking a delicate balance between your use of praise and criticism. To always keep on praising your employees without finding any faults in them even when they err is not a good strategy. But when you find faults with them as well, and that too with compassion and suggest ways and means to mend, bend and improve themselves, your act of criticism, too,  becomes a kind of praise acting as a soothing balm for them.

— The writer is a Kangra-based psychologist