People need to hear it on a daily basis, when they're actually in the trenches, not simply when they've accomplished something out of the ordinary or another 12 months have rolled by. Leadership by example. And making sure that everyone on the team understands how everyone else's contribution lightens the load for all. For Basic human psychology tells us that we're more likely to do our best when we're challenged. That's hardly surprising.
People like to feel good about what they do.
But high standards don't simply materialize out of thin air. Someone has to set the tone. When my parents went into business more than 70 years ago, they placed a premium on superior performance. Whether the task was polishing silverware, or serving hot and cold food, any job worth doing was worth doing not merely right, but superbly, to the very best of the doer's ability. Although the company is now many times larger than either of them ever envisioned, their ethic of excellence remains one of our core values.