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Tying the knots of success
Great leaders help people repeat positive behaviours through positive reinforcement, says J. P. Maroney
Great leaders help people repeat positive behaviours through positive reinforcement, says J. P. Maroney.
Great leaders know that if you want a behaviour repeated, you must reinforce it. They make sure people hear from them when they've done well, not just when they've made mistakes. Great leaders know that each individual responds to different forms of reinforcement, so they treat each person uniquely, and discover what motivates that person. Then, they consistently look for opportunities to give positive reinforcement to positive behaviours. Here are three ways to help repeat positive behaviour through positive reinforcement:
Be spontaneous
Positive reinforcement should come spontaneously. Catch people off guard. Praise them when they least expect it. Catch them doing something right, and praise them immediately. It can be as simple as stopping by their desk, catching them in the hall, or jotting down a quick note on a card that you leave on their computer keyboard. Just develop the habit of praising spontaneously so as to reinforce positive behaviours.
Be specific
Calling attention to a specific event or activity will have a much greater affect than offering some general comment like, "We sure do appreciate the work you do around here." Instead of settling for that type of comment, look for ways you can praise a specific action taken by a member of your team. Consider using a comment like, "Nancy, I really appreciate the way you handled that shipping problem with the Franklin Industries account last week. You really saved the day." That approach will have a much greater impact on the employee.
Be consistent
Don't let a day or a week go by when you don't share some sort of positive reinforcement with your team members. Well known business author, Ken Blanchard, recommends investing at least one hour each week looking for opportunities to catch people doing things right so that you can offer positive reinforcement.
About the author: J. P. Maroney specialises in helping companies create entrepreneurial cultures where employees think and act like owners, and accept personal responsibility for the organisation's success.
