The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

September 26, 2015 Recognize Your Employees’ Achievements One of the top complaints we have about executives is that they don’t recognize our achievements. Leaders have to actively build a sense of connectedness with their employees, and this starts with expressing appreciation. Notice employees’ unique contributions. Say something that highlights something specific: “I appreciate the way you pull in people from other departments to reach your team goals – you’re a connector.” Thank people personally and publicly. Daily interactions – from the elevator to the parking lot – are opportunities to show appreciation for your employees’ efforts. Public recognition at a staff meeting, or a thoughtful “thank you” in a newsletter or e-mail, are also meaningful. Ask, “What do you think?” Give people the opportunity to express themselves and be recognized for their ideas. Proactively ask employees, “How do you think we could improve?” and “What is keeping us stuck?” Adapted from “The Top Complaints from Employees About Their Leaders,” by Lou Solomon.

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