When I was new in management, a veteran administrator cautioned, You have to be careful, Bill. I ve learned not to compliment my people. Makes them too self-assured, and they get lax in their work habits. Better to keep them guessing. Even then, I knew that managers build loyalty when they celebrate their employees' successes with compliments.
Criticism has the same impact on people that salt does on plants.
Stated positively, compliments act as nutrients for people, just as fertilizer does for flowers. When I think of compliments, I remember my father s advice. For forty years, he managed a sizable department store. Bill, one thing I have learned is that workers perform better when we let them know we appreciate their performance. Remember to commend those who do well.