Here’s an interesting snippet from “Management Line,” the blog at the Australian newspaper “The Age.”

Saying “thank you” for work well done seems such an obvious action, both from politeness and as a (free, simple, and powerful) motivator. Yet it’s quite uncommon in many organizations, especially those afflicted by Hamburger Management. Maybe Hamburger Managers feel it doesn’t fit with their “hard guy” image? Maybe they just don’t have enough empathy or interest in others to bother?

Here’s part of what the article said:

Only one in 10 employees say their supervisors have said “thank you” for a job well done, according to a survey from global staff motivation consultants Maritz.

Indeed, one in four are thanked seldom or never, and only 29 per cent get the occasional pat on the back.

What’s interesting is that we get a very different picture from the bosses. They seem to be on another planet.

According to the survey, 34 per cent of supervisors said they praise their “direct reports” every day and 37 per cent said they do it once a week.

All of which suggests that bosses might think that they’re recognising the work their employees do, but they’re not doing it in ways that mean much to staff.

What happens in your business?

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