Once you have hired the perfect people for your organization, the real work begins. Lots of small business owners simply turn new employees loose on important projects and hope for the best. It’s easy to understand why. Entrepreneurs are almost always pressed for time. That’s why you hire people in the first place: to do stuff that needs to be done that you don’t have time to do.
If you don’t make a serious effort to show your employees that you notice and appreciate their work, though, you run the risk that they will lose interest and motivation. Most employees crave feedback, even negative feedback, as long as it comes from somebody they believe is trying to help them improve. Sincere praise for a job well done can go a long way toward building a strong relationship of trust.
Another good motivating factor is competition. Our sales team constantly has competitions and contests that encourage them to hit their numbers, and when they do, they’re rewarded. Your employees are working hard for you, so reward them every now and then when they’ve exceed your expectations.