Have you noticed how each one of your employees is different from the others? Whether it’s their work pace, organizational styles, or time management skills, each person is unique. And, that’s exactly what you want. The best teams are made up of diverse individuals who bring their own specific skills, styles, and experiences to the table.
But, while this is great for the team, it can make managing people a little tricky, especially in a time when morale is down and employees are feeling stretched to the max without much, if any, financial incentive. Sometimes, all a leader has the ability to give is encouragement and praise. So, it’s imperative that you make sure you’re speaking each employee’s language.
If you’re familiar with marriage or communication books, you’ve probably heard of The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. This bestselling series deals specifically with communication between spouses, children, and families; however, these five “love” languages can be applied to the workplace as well. While as a manager you’re not trying to communicate your love to employees, you do want to successfully and consistently make employees feel appreciated and valued.
So, how do you do it?
First, identify each employee’s language. Keep in mind that most people have a primary and a secondary language, so you’ll want to pinpoint both. If you know them well, you can probably figure it out by yourself. Or, if you don’t know, just ask them if they would prefer to be recognized and shown appreciation most through:
• Words
• Time
• Gifts
• Acts of service
• A pat on the back
Then, make it a point to regularly praise them in one of their languages for something specific. Some practical ideas you can start using today include:
Words
• Praise them verbally, either one-on-one or in a team meeting.
• Tell upper management what an asset they are. Word will get back to them that you’ve been singing their praises.
• When you review a project they’ve worked on, write or e-mail them a note that says “Great job!”
Time
• Hold a weekly one-on-one meeting with them and block out all distractions, even if that means turning off the phone and closing the door.
• Treat them to lunch when they’ve finished a big project.
• When they stop by with a problem, stop what you’re doing and listen. Most likely, they just want you to be sympathetic and hear where they’re coming from.
Gifts
• Give them a few hours or even a day of extra PTO as thanks for working overtime to meet a deadline.
• Bring them their favorite Starbucks drink or sweet treat when they’re in the middle of a stressful workload.
• When you order office supplies, order them their favorite kind of pen or note pads.
Acts of service
• Offer to take a task off their plate when they’re covered up with work.
• If they normally take on the task of cleaning up the coffee area or print room, surprise them by taking care of it.
• Work to get their computer a much-needed update or completely replaced.
A pat on the back
• Give them a warm handshake to show that you’re proud of them.
• When they share good news, initiate a high five.
• If they look discouraged, give them an encouraging pat on the back.
Remember, you have to find and speak each employee’s individual affirmation language, and not simply demonstrate your appreciation in your own language. Your employee will feel lucky to have a leader who acknowledges their hard work and appreciates their efforts.
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