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My co-worker Shaun Spearmon highlights the value in heeding some advice given by an employee to her manager, and offers a lesson to all managers on how to – and how not to – deliver well-deserved kudos.
If you're in a leadership position, please pay close attention to the following message recently posted to a social media channel:
Dear Managers, Directors, and CEOs,
After your team hits a company record and pulls off what was previously thought impossible, carefully choose your words.
Do not go on to list out how we could have done just a bit more, worked just a little harder, or how we'll achieve more “next time.” This is the simplest example of Keep It Simple, Stupid!
At a moment like this, simply say "Good job! Thank you." – and be done.
Sincerely,
Your Record-Setting Employee
Just as trust can take years to build and a nanosecond to eliminate, the inspiration your employees possess to exceed the requirements of their day job can be vaporized with poor word choice when celebrating a win. A solid indicator that your celebratory email will kill whatever momentum the win created is if your congratulatory phrase is followed by a big “but.” In the words of Pee Wee Herman, “let’s talk about your big but.”
The “but” negates the win. Period. Although it may be well-intentioned, the “but” has the unintended consequence of devaluing the effort that you want all of your employees to exhibit. In no way am I suggesting that a dialogue around opportunities to improve shouldn’t occur – quite the contrary. I simply share the belief of the aforementioned Record-Setting Employee: That timing is everything. So lose the “but.”
It is no mystery that language, syntax, and tone can make or break a well-intentioned email. This fact is especially true when sending that congratulatory email to your employees for a job well done. You typically have one shot, one opportunity to get this right, and the Record-Setting Employee’s guidelines all but guarantee your success. When celebrating a win, your only job is to do just that – celebrate the win.
Wins – small and large – deserve your undivided attention if you desire your people to continue generating them. If given the opportunity and the proper dose of positive reinforcement, engaged and motivated employees consistently demonstrate that celebrating wins begets more wins – that is, unless you become the barrier.
