As a leader, do you recognize improvement in your employees? During busy days, you may spend most of your time focusing on top performers or those who are falling short of expectations.
While there’s value in that practice, don’t forget about those who are in the middle and are showing improvement. They may be the ones who, down the line, will have a big impact on your organization. Consider these tips to make sure you’re honoring those who are getting better:
Success and Failure
You may want to redefine your definitions of success and failure on the job. They don’t always give you the whole picture of your business. Factors out of your control may make people better or worse and may have little to do with effort.
For instance, if you’re a salesperson, who’s selling the brand new iPhone, then you’ll likely be very successful. The product is more of a star than the salesperson. Those selling a ten year old flip phone, may have a harder time, no matter how passionate they are about the product.
Focus on the Middle
The top performers and the underperforms are likely to continue being who they are. Those in the middle, usually the bulk of your workforce, have room to go up or down.
A few words of encouragement may light a fire under those who are in the middle and inspire them to improve. That improvement may be that extra little bit of attention given to a customer, asking one more question that leads to a revelation, or offering help to an overwhelmed coworker.
While no one activity may be game changing for your business, collectively, they add up to success.
Recognize Improvement Through Little Gestures
In elementary school, I remember a time when a teacher chose to recognize improvement. At the time, I wasn’t the best at spelling. While I wasn’t horrible, it wasn’t a strength.
I did try to improve and I remember one day receiving a test back that had a good but not great grade. Next to the grade was a sticker that said, “No lying, I’ve been trying,” and featured an illustration of a cheerful lion.
The recognition of my effort was unexpected but appreciated. At the time, I was operating with a mindset that anything that wasn’t really great, wasn’t worth celebrating.
But the little gesture convinced me that while I was never going to be a great speller, I was making progress and it was something that I should keep doing.
In your world, think about the gestures you can make that can recognize improvement. It doesn’t have to be a bonus or hall of fame induction. Even a few words can leave a lasting impression and raise someone’s level of performance.
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