A good-news letter has
more than one job: to tell the reader that something great has occurred.
It exists in the workplace to not only recognize excellence but to promote it.
That happens initially with the person receives the letter. By the end of the letter, the overall message should be: Job well done! Keep up the good work!
But before that letter is finished, a good-news letter will challenge the person whose achievements are being recognized to greater productivity.
For that reason, the good-news letter is not only a pat on the back, it is a kick in the pants.
When used strategically, the good-news letter that acknowledges outstanding performance can also motivate the rest of the staff or team.
For a good-news letter that contains no private information that can't be shared should be shared if you want to maximize the benefits of producing one: a good-news letter motivates the reader and can motivate the team who should be spurred to greater competitiveness.
Here's one way to write one:
Begin with a proper salutation that sets the tone, and spell the name of the recipient correctly.
Begin with announcing the good news. (Save subtlety for bad news.)
Explain the benefits of the good news. Example: You get your own parking spot!
Conclude with a message that says something like this: Thank you for your hard work. We are expecting even greater accomplishments from you in the future.
Yes, good-news letters are always welcome, and they are so much more fun to write than bad-news letters (which have more jobs to do than good-news letters)l but a good-news letter multi-tasks: it rewards the reader, challenges the reader--and motivates others who know about it.
Think about all of those benefits the next time you have an opportunity to praise a member of your team or staff for an accomplishment. Because good-news letters are not just a reaction of off-the-cuff praise; they are motivational tools that have the potential to increase productivity while enhancing job satisfaction and improving workplace morale.
It exists in the workplace to not only recognize excellence but to promote it.
That happens initially with the person receives the letter. By the end of the letter, the overall message should be: Job well done! Keep up the good work!
But before that letter is finished, a good-news letter will challenge the person whose achievements are being recognized to greater productivity.
For that reason, the good-news letter is not only a pat on the back, it is a kick in the pants.
When used strategically, the good-news letter that acknowledges outstanding performance can also motivate the rest of the staff or team.
For a good-news letter that contains no private information that can't be shared should be shared if you want to maximize the benefits of producing one: a good-news letter motivates the reader and can motivate the team who should be spurred to greater competitiveness.
Here's one way to write one:
Begin with a proper salutation that sets the tone, and spell the name of the recipient correctly.
Begin with announcing the good news. (Save subtlety for bad news.)
Explain the benefits of the good news. Example: You get your own parking spot!
Conclude with a message that says something like this: Thank you for your hard work. We are expecting even greater accomplishments from you in the future.
Yes, good-news letters are always welcome, and they are so much more fun to write than bad-news letters (which have more jobs to do than good-news letters)l but a good-news letter multi-tasks: it rewards the reader, challenges the reader--and motivates others who know about it.
Think about all of those benefits the next time you have an opportunity to praise a member of your team or staff for an accomplishment. Because good-news letters are not just a reaction of off-the-cuff praise; they are motivational tools that have the potential to increase productivity while enhancing job satisfaction and improving workplace morale.
Daphne Simpkins' most recent book is.Christmas in Fountain City
