4
Let’s Get Formal

Regardless of the informal thanks, credit, and recognition you give to your employees, a great source of meaningful rewards for them comes from receiving formal feedback on their performance at least once a year.

Many managers tend to delay these sit-down meetings or forget about them altogether, typically mouthing the mantra, “I don’t have time.” This type of thinking destroys a valuable recognition opportunity.

It is highly rewarding for an employee to have a clear idea of how he or she is doing and where improvement may be needed. When an employee is not given this feedback, it is akin to shooting arrows at a target, but not seeing where they are hitting.

The most obvious messages in formal review sessions deal with the employees’ performance, but the deeper message is that you have a genuine interest in the employees and their careers, and this is one of the greatest rewards you can provide.