- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
One of the most powerful tools a leader has to create an engaged workforce and bring out the best in people costs nothing. It’s called positive feedback. And yet, it may be one of the most underutilized leadership behaviors in the workplace today.
Survey after survey shows employees need far more feedback than they are currently receiving. Decades of research from the Gallup Organization show that the most productive workplaces have large numbers of employees who answer “yes” to two simple questions:
In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good work?
In the last six months, has someone talked with me about my progress?
How would you answer those questions? How would the people who report to you respond?
According to Gallup, these questions receive some of the highest number of “no” responses across employee engagement surveys in the thirteen global regions they assessed. I suspect that if Gallup asked family members comparable questions about their parents, partners, or spouses, the results might look similar.
Everyone wants positive feedback. Few people receive it consistently.
A leadership opportunity.
Every day leaders see people doing things well, solving problems, helping teammates, serving customers, showing initiative, or persevering through challenges.
Most of those moments pass without being acknowledged.
But when leaders pause long enough to recognize those efforts, they reinforce the behaviors that help people and organizations succeed. Remember…what gets rewarded gets repeated.
Our family members need encouragement and recognition too.
Parents, spouses, and family members see acts of kindness, effort, and growth every day. When those moments are recognized, they strengthen relationships and encourage more of the behaviors we want to see.
Mark Twain once joked, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.”
The Power of Positive Feedback
At its core, feedback is simply a conversation.
Some conversations drain energy and discourage people. Others build confidence, strengthen relationships, and bring out the best in everyone involved.
Positive feedback conversations fall into that second category.
Even high performers experience moments of doubt about their value from time to time. A sincere word of appreciation can reinforce their confidence and remind them that their contribution matters.
When people feel seen, valued, and encouraged, they bring more energy to their work and add more value to the people they work with and serve.
Entrepreneur Mary Kay Ash once said, “Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don’t keep it a secret.”
Who could benefit from your positive feedback today?
Let's Get Better Together,
Bill Durkin, Founder
One Positive Place
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