Verbal encouragements from the managers and colleagues can work wonders for a person. It is true nobody can motivate another person, one has to motivate oneself and yet experience tells us that we all long for an appreciation from others.

It takes courage to encourage. It is much easier to fire and howl at people for their failures. Since the manager’s objective is the well being of his organisation and the well being of his employees, he should encourage them to optimise their performances.

One of the ways to encourage is to affirm the positive in people. The more positively you speak to them the more positively you and they become. Being positive is directly related to one’s performance. Focus your attention on their strengths not on their failures. Maximise their strengths and minimise their weaknesses by your timely encouragements.

Appreciate efforts

Encourage when things go right. Encourage more when things go wrong. Acknowledge a good work; appreciate it in front of others. Acknowledge every idea taken from your subordinates and reward them for their ideas. Informal relationships and open communication are as important to them as the big pay you give. Verbal encouragements have a direct impact on one’s performance and productivity.

Very often employees are at cross roads, afraid to take any road or about to take the wrong road. It’s good that they are raring to walk to the target, but with a word of appreciation from you, they will run to their targets. The manager’s primary role is to lead and motivate his employees. He has to create an environment where they can succeed; offer them opportunities where they can motivate themselves. Become a little generous with your words and deeds and they will charm you with their performances. It takes only a little bit of encouraging words from you to make them move to mountains.

Become empathetic and help them to solve their problems. Help them enjoy their work, if you want to enjoy your work of leading them. Tell them often how you appreciate them and be sincere in your use of praises and encouragements. You know what you are today is because of their hard labour. There are CEOs relaxing in their corner offices and enjoying watching hundreds of their employees struggling to make them richer. Appreciate their efforts. Learn to say thanks to your subordinates.

Thank them for making you so successful. Encourage them to become creative, innovative and ask them for suggestions. They know more than you do because they are at the front. Encourage them to participate in decision making especially decisions that matter them.

‘People are the most important asset,’ you say it so often. Practise what you preach. Make them feel that they are very important for you. They should feel that they are needed. It is not enough that you look at them as important but they should feel and know that you do so.

Are your subordinates scared of you? If yes, then you are not getting their maximum. Make them feel that you are not a taskmaster, a tyrant, but willing and eager to join them in their tea break. Talk often to them instead of talking only to your bosses. Get to know them and become their friend. But never invade their privacy. They’ll feel honoured that you are in their company. You lose nothing, but you lose a lot if you are always in the company of your fellow managers.

Be with your employees and they will never let you down. More than all smile always. It will give confidence to your people. They want you to succeed. Smile more when things are not ok. Next time they will go out of their ways to make sure you succeed. Humour can motivate and encourage even the poorest performer. People give their maximum when they are in a relaxed friendly atmosphere.

The writer is Head HR, L & T Komatsu Ltd.

His email: gys-bw@bw.ltindia.com