Performance matters: the importance of praise

The aim
To ensure that managers understand how to use praise to make their staff realize that their efforts are appreciated.

About the program
At the top of the list of why people think of leaving their jobs is the fact that they feel they aren't appreciated enough.

This new program makes the point that giving praise where it's due is a management tool that's powerful, cheap and easy to use. It can bring amazing results in terms of increasing the quality and quantity of the output of the people who work for them, providing it is correctly applied.

A department with a high staff turnover is in danger of losing another member: the individual displayed initiative and commitment in helping a customer, yet their manager could only criticize the unauthorized expense of a taxi fare.

The employee's attitude changes with renewed enthusiasm when the manager shows interest and appreciation in a job well done. Among the rules learnt are that it's important to let people know why they are being praised, make sure that the effect isn't ruined by a sting-in-the-tail remark, and to pass on praise from customers or superiors.

The benefits

• Addresses the reasons why managers don't praise
• Shows the value of adding praise to the corporate culture
• Makes managers aware that it's important to seek opportunities to praise staff
• Provides six easily-remembered rules for praising staff correctly
• Proves that praising is not a natural gift but a learnable skill

Information:
A Video Arts production featuring John Cleese. Release date: 2000