There are a number of ways to do this. However, I know we are all involved in the effort. I know, for example, that Jim Smith and his people have been putting in night after night of voluntary overtime to get back on track, and that it is paying off. These few words will really turn on Smith and his crew and serve to turn on some others as well. Of course, the executive has calculated this off-hand remark carefully, making sure that the contribution recognized is indeed a unique one.
Every employee is an individual, with specific needs, hopes, fears and problems.
One way to respond to individuals is by simply listening to them. People who air their problems to the boss are not necessarily conducting a gripe session. They want to tell someone, and they appreciate a boss who is not too busy to be told. There are sometimes more positive ways to respond to individuals. For example, it may be possible to make adjustments in compensation which maintain the same dollar total but which take into account the phase of life in which subordinates finds themselves.