Chances are, you get far more complaints about what's gone wrong than thanks for what's gone right. Not only will your words help boost morale, they will serve as a positive reinforcement that can increase the chances the desirable behavior will be repeated. During these sessions, employees should be encouraged to air their own concerns with no threat of reprisal, while you in turn offer constructive criticism as well as words of praise. Be sure, however, to get written agreement from the employee on the points that were discussed, particularly with regard to your expectations for changes in attitude or performance. While most educators know repetition is the key to learning, they would also agree that performing the same tasks day after day can lead to boredom and apathy.
Most employees welcome the opportunity to tackle new challenges and expand job responsibilities.
Cross-training, or allowing employees to learn jobs routinely performed by other employees, is one solution. But if you've kept the lines of honest communication open, meaning employees understand that money is tight, you may find the chance to learn or just do something different is sufficient reward, at least in the short run. The author is managing editor of The Business Journal , Youngstown, Ohio, and a former management consultant on employee-development issues.