Research after research has shown the impact of positive feedback for employees. When employees are given positive feedback, they are more likely to perform better. They are more active in achieving the goals of the company and make it a point to give it all. However, the sad part is that positive feedback is a tool that is heavily underutilized by employees all around the world. If done right, it’s sure to transform the workplace. Here’s how you can engage employees with positive feedback.
1. Be Consistent
Positive feedback works well when you are consistent about it. You can’t just give positive feedback to your employees just once and then forget about the whole thing. If you do this, you won’t see any changes. According to a survey conducted by IBM, of the 19,000 workers who were surveyed across 26 countries, employees who received positive feedback regularly were more likely to be involved in the workplace. This not only impacts how they achieve the company’s goals but also affects the company’s retention rate.
2. Be Specific
Another way to engage your employees with positive feedback is to be specific. According to Gallup, employees who receive specific feedback are more likely to grow and learn. Being specific also means avoiding vague sentences and phrases. You can quote an example of what they did that really stood out to you in a good way. Perhaps they were able to save a client who was about to walk out. If you don’t give specific feedback, it can backfire. Your employee might not feel so valued and might start looking for other, more full-filling jobs to advance in their careers.
3. Discuss the Mistakes in a Calm Way
Let’s face it, no one’s perfect. We all make mistakes, which can sometimes become a huge problem. However, giving positive feedback doesn’t mean that you forget to address the mistakes it all. If you do that, the employee would not know what to look out for and how to avoid the next mistake. Instead, you have to discuss the mistakes in a constructive way. Tell them where they went wrong and how they could avoid it the next time. You can also inform them about how the mistake impacted the company. Remember, it’s not about pointing fingers. It’s about letting them know that it’s okay to make mistakes and addressing them promptly can do wonders for the company.
4. Use Appropriate Body Language
Remember, how you say is just as important as what you say. One of the key ways to engage employees is by displaying the right body language. You can smile at them, keep a soft tone and maintain eye contact. You should also use the right kind of hand and facial gestures so that they know it’s not just about the words and that you’re being sincere.
5. Assume People Don’t Know Their Strength
As managers, we assume that each employee already knows all about their strengths and weakness. If not weakness, they definitely know about their strengths. But that’s not always the case. You might be surprised at how little an idea people have about their strengths. So the next time you go to give an employee some feedback, be certain to let them know about their strengths. It’s one of the best ways is to say thanks through an automated provider such as peero.app
6. Focus on Behavior and Effort
Another thing you might want to do is to focus on effort and behavior put forward by your employees. Sure, it’s a good idea to talk about skills, but it’s not the only valuable thing that your employee possesses. Moreover, while skills keep evolving and your employee learns new skills as time goes by, the same cannot be said of behavior and effort. It is a lot difficult to change effort and behavior and if your employees are displaying the right kind of behavior, they are more likely to be engaged with your company’s culture and contribute positively to it.
7. Ensure You’re Doing it For the Right Reasons
Here’s the thing about offering feedback to employees, you have to ensure that you’re doing it for the right reasons. This point is very important. When you’re planning to give feedback, be certain that it’s a positive one and that you’re doing it because you want your employee to be engaged with the company. Even if you’re offering constructive feedback, make it a point to check your feelings. You shouldn’t be biased about what you’re saying as this could cause serious problems.
8. Hear Their Thoughts
You cannot expect your employees to remain engaged with the company if you don’t hear them out. That’s just not how it works. So the next time you give your employees positive feedback, be sure to take out time to hear their thoughts. You can ask them if there is something bothering them or how their work is going. This will also allow you to get an insight into what the employee is thinking and how you can adapt the work environment to ensure that their grievances are being heard. This will allow you to create a positive environment that is sure to keep your employees engaged.
9. Bring in Gestures
It’s not just about words, but also about gestures. When you’re giving employees positive feedback, be sure to go the extra mile by bringing in candies or taking them out for lunch. You can also take them out to the park and have some coffee on the benches. Remember, you want to show them that it’s a pleasure to have them on your team. And nothing shows that more than celebrating it the right way.
It’s crucial to provide positive feedback to employees and let them know how invaluable they are to your team. Failure to not do so can have severe consequences and might result in disengagement. So be sure to follow the above tips and you’ll have a pre-engaged workforce.