Interpersonal Leadership > Toolbox Dare to Praise Posted by Office of Leadership Development of the Florida Baptist Convention on Nov 28, 2004, 14:49

Dare to Praise!

Here is a dare for you to place in your "interpersonal leadership toolbox of things that you need to do...."

You are hereby officially dared to risk praising those you lead. No kidding, you need to risk praising those you lead. Now some will read this and think, "I do that already!"

Hopefully you do...however....

Statistics show that 65% of Americans received NO praise or recognition in the work place in the last year, a Gallup Poll reports. And the number one reason that people leave organizations is that they don't feel appreciated, notes the U.S. Department of Labor.

A serious recognition gap exists in most organizations, and that gap seems acceptable to many. Yet Gallup's study of nearly five million employees reveals that increasing the recognition and praise in organizations can lead to lower turnover, higher customer loyalty, and satisfaction scores. The same study finds that overall productivity increases when praise is offered in the workplace. (Source of material: On Mission, Vitals, North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention, Winter 2005)

As you relate to those you lead remember this valuable lesson from the workplace. If people are willing to leave their jobs and careers because they don't receive recognition and praise...imagine how much quicker they will leave if they are serving in some non-compensated enviroment...like the local church. Whether your team is paid or not...you as a leader will increase the loyalty of your team, the satisfaction level, and the productivity level if you are willing to offer a little praise and recognition. Be willing to let those you lead know how much you appreciate what they do. Allow them to shine in front of others when the opportunity allows and be quick to praise their efforts. By taking this risk you allow those you lead to take a sense of ownership and accomplishment in what they are doing.

And by be willing to praise you can also earn the right to help correct and change the direction of certain actions when you need to. You will have not only earned that right by position but by your relationship with your fellow team member.