Acknowledging Employees Is More Than Just “Atta-boys”

On the shoulders of a recent blog post focused on caring about your employees, to really develop people you must pinpoint positive behavior and let your direct reports know you saw, respected and valued their exact behavior in that moment. Eliminate “atta-boys” from your repertoire…and replace them with heartfelt, genuine acknowledgement.

Pay Attention

Too often, leaders will offer an “atta-boy” or “great job!” to a direct report versus a true recap of precisely what he/she did that moved the needle. What’s essential is to prove you observed a person’s smart, effective behavior and told them about it. They get the sense that you are paying attention to them, which is important to an employee’s psyche. What this accomplishes is respect and dedication to the development of your direct report. This is job #1 with your “A”Players and imperative to develop your “B” Players, too.

Genuine Acknowledgement Works

Last week I was observing a client in an important investor meeting. I noted several actions he took that were quite impressive. Easily, I could have said “Hey…great job in there.”  Instead, I acknowledged him for his focus, poise and ability to succinctly capture the unique DNA of the portfolio company he stewards. He beamed with pride when I completed my acknowledgement.