ATM Any Time Motivator

I am suggesting that we design and install ATM's in organizations - Any Time Motivators! Where employees can insert their IDs and hear some praise from their bosses - pre recorded. I am even thinking of an advanced ATM where a robotic arm comes out and pats the employee on their shoulder!

Why this sorry state of affairs when it comes to employee motivation?

Why are Indian managers so stingy with praise and so liberal with criticism? I often ask participants in my session whether there's anyone in the room who has received too much praise in their organizations. Are they thinking of quitting their jobs because they are fed up with being praised all the time? In my 15 years of asking this question not one hand has gone up!I have often wondered why it is so difficult for managers to give appreciation to team members? Is it that we dont think it is important? We pay our people good salaries, they are supposed to do their job - what else do they want?

Perhaps it has to do with our up bringing. I remember my Dad would tell nice things about his children to other people and not to us!And we would hear about what he said from friends/relatives!There is a school of thought that praising people too much would make them arrogant and hence complacent.One must always keep people on a tight leash and keep them guessing about their performance.

Zig Ziglar said that while there are a lot of people who go to sleep hungry for food, there are millions who go to sleep hungry for a word of praise! We are like sponges waiting for a drop of praise. Don't we treasure our medals, certificates, press write-ups carefully collected over a lifetime and proudly displayed?

I am surprised that so few managers realize the awesome motivational power of recognition/praise/appreciation and use it so little? Instead, we prefer to believe that pacifiers like salary hikes, bonuses, onsite assignments, because it is simpler and we don't have to do the hard work of getting to know our people and the good work they do.

Great managers and leaders know the power of genuine appreciation - phony managers indulge in Friday evening motivation - just to get their employees to come in and work over the week end. Great managers give unconditional and spontaneous appreciation with no other agenda!

Happy appreciating - "Catch your people doing something right" as Ken Blanchard beautifully reminds us!