Motivational Management: Inspiring Your People for Maximum Performance

Level One: Positive and Negative Feedback

Ken Blanchard (of One Minute Manager fame) is particularly adamant about the importance of ''catching someone doing something right.'' He points out that managers too easily fall into what he calls the ''leave alone—zap'' pattern of management, in which they do not pay much attention to employees until there is a problem. From the employee's perspective, it seems like their manager is just there to catch them doing something wrong—and zap them with negative feedback when they do.

Turning Performance Around with Recognition Consultant Ferdinand Fournies recounts the story of a manager who turned around a problematic employee by deciding to recognize anything good he did rather than continue to keep focusing ...