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Employees' Top Likes and Dislikes
Leadership Tip of the Month by Ron Jasniowski
Occasionally I get permission to ask employees on all three shifts what their top likes and dislikes are about working for their current employer. Even though this is very spontaneous and they have no idea about my specialty, they frequently say something like, "My manager always criticizes what I do wrong, and rarely appreciates what I do right." But their manager usually denies this and claims to express appreciation frequently.
What's going on? Two things. First, managers have an innate desire to help others improve and frequently ask employees to work on their shortcomings immediately after expressing appreciation. When managers insert "but ... you still can do better" within their appreciation, managers walk away feeling they expressed appreciation and employees walk away feeling they were criticized. Appreciation needs to be expressed in a way that is 100% positive. Do not mix criticism with appreciation! Separate the two and always address each promptly.
Second, managers typically need less appreciation than employees. When managers express appreciation a few times a month, they feel that is adequate. It is not. Subordinates need more appreciation than superiors ... it's part of the nature of the positions.
Children constantly look to elders for affirmation. If they don't get it, they are demoralized. Part of adulthood, is needing less affirmation, but it doesn't cease. When your employees go the extra mile without your acknowledgment or appreciation, over time this demoralizes them. During times of lack of communication, people often think the worst. Each day your employees might be thinking: "My manager doesn't like me or the work I do. Good performance or average performance makes no difference to my manager."
Annual reviews are no substitute for regular feedback. Affirm your employees strengths frequently and if they have some shortcomings that are holding them back, let them know occasionally. Also ask your employees what their top workplace likes and dislikes are. Then ask them for their thoughts of how you might make life at work better for them. Most of your employees probably never had a manager who expressed that kind of concern. Employees have a lot of respect for managers who express genuine interest in their needs and concerns.
Unappreciated employees are our most perishable resource. --Ron Jasniowski ©2002
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