You don’t need to be hot; You just need to be successful and those are two different things. Success often comes from doing a few things extraordinarily well and noticeably better than the competition.
1. Catch People in the act of doing things Right not Wrong: Everyone wants to be recognized and it's the basic instinct of being a human and good news is that it’s one of the easiest things to give. Appreciate every improvement that you see your team members make.
2. Make your ideas theirs: People hate being told what to do. Instead of telling people what you want done; ask them in a way that will make them feel like they came up with the idea. “I’d like you to do it this way” turns into “Do you think it’s a good idea if we do it this way?”
3. Instantaneous feedback: Instantaneous appreciation/criticism are highly effective because the feedback is immediate, unlike the annual reviews where you are charged for things committed several weeks or months ago.
4. Appreciate in public: Once you’re comfortable delivering appreciation one-on-one to an employee, try appreciating them in front of others. Highlight your top performers’ strengths and let them know that because of their excellence, you want them to be the example for others. You’ll set the bar high and they’ll be motivated to live up to their reputation as a leader.
5. Never criticize in public: No one, and I mean no one, wants to hear that they did something wrong in public; Take it to the private conversations. Try an indirect approach to get people to improve, learn from their mistakes, and fix them. Ask, “Was that the best way to approach the problem? Why not? Have any ideas on what you could have done differently?” Then you’re having a conversation and talking through solutions, not pointing a finger.
6. Empower people to take decisions and make them accountable: Encourage Agile(Learn, Unlearn, Relearn - "Fail Fast, Fail Often, Learn Fast"); Foster Open Communication; Reward self-improvement; Clearly define Roles; Appreciate honest efforts
7. Give recognition and small rewards: These two things come in many forms: Give a shout out to someone in a company meeting for what she has accomplished. Try simple things like lunch, dinner, family vacation, trophies, spa services, and plaques.
