While I don’t consider him a leader to emulate, Napoleon Bonaparte nailed it when he said, “A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.” That may sound cynical, but it points to a simple fact about human beings: We need to be recognized for our good work. We need sincere praise when it’s deserved. This is a basic truth that effective leaders embrace. When giving praise at Intertech, we try to be immediate and specific. Ideal praise speaks to a specific action and the overall benefit it created for the organization, while the experience is still fresh. We also try to give employees the chance to “relive the experience” by asking them—in person—“how did you do it?” It’s also great to give praise in writing (a memo or handwritten note versus an e-mail) or in public so the recipient can bask in the recognition in front of peers. As an organization grows, everyone needs to be involved with giving appropriate praise. At Intertech, we have created the ACE award to instill this value into our culture.   ACEs are nominated by their peers for living our values of attitude, commitment, and excellence. 

Tom’s Takeaway: Always err on the side of giving too much praise versus not enough. Give specific praise and put it in writing. Build a culture of recognition at your company. Life is short. People cannot hear they’re doing a good job often enough!