“Instruction does much, but encouragement everything."
In this section today I shall share my views on a value which is important to everyone and everyone needs it.
It’s called encouragement and motivating people. I shall start it with a short story based on one of my personal experiences.
My Class Prep Teacher
I still remember the day when I went for my first interview and written test in one of the best schools of the town. My mother was preparing me for the interview since a long time and I remember a thin, lean and stern looking teacher clad in a white saree who used to come and teach me every day.
On the day we had the test, I went to the school and there was a huge line of students along with their parents. Then we were separated from our parents and taken for the tests. I passed the exams and was admitted to Prep class.
I remember the first day, I cried so much and in such a loud voice that I needed no loudspeaker. And then a teacher Mrs. Vyas entered a room where so many of us were seated. Her name was Mrs. Vyas. She was fair and her face I still remember was very loving. If I put in my words which I used as a kid: “it was very mother like.” She was full of love and empathy and now I feel that I owe my existence apart from my parents to her. I am not sure what I liked about her because there were so many things that I learned from her. I loved her, obeyed her and I am not sure whether the obedience was because of respect, since the age I belonged to respect was not understood. But love was.
She told us to speak in English even if that meant wrong English. I remember when I was passing from the first step of becoming a person (class prep), I was given “Puss in Boots” as a prize. I have this book still in my cupboard. And in it is written “For English”
I also remember the words she told my parents “that it was a reward for my effort in speaking the language she told me”. It was my first recognition to be “me” in this world. I felt happy at that moment and if I replace the word happy with “proud”, it will mean better.
A lot of time has passed. My teacher is no longer there in that school. But whenever I get a chance I try to visit her. And she fondly calls me “Darbari”.
I also remember the poem she said for me “ Parul darbari ki lambi darhi,jispe chalti thi railgarhi.” And I felt very happy that of all the pupils, I was the only one on whom a rail could pass. I am growing, and I remember a song again which was taught to us in our childhood, “que sera sera, what ever shall be, shall be, the future’s not ours to see”. I am not sure whether future has actually arrived or I am yet to see more. I am not sure whether I have tasted success or some more of it is left. But I am sure that whatever may happen I shall never forget Mrs. Vyas. For she added rhythm to my steps towards success. She taught me the lesson that it is always effort which is more important than the end result. She taught me that a little encouragement can do wonders and loving each and every individual is important.
Some Tips To Encourage Employees at Workplace
I shall start these tips with something I believe as a HR Practitioner. We as human beings cannot encourage or motivate another human being; but we can facilitate an environment which does this.
Work on yourself first -- and constantly. If you want to inspire others you have to have found your own calling. Your goal is to get to the point where you no longer “try” to inspire others. You have to vibrate at such a high frequency of self-assuredness that others are inspired simply by being around you.
Consciously try, on every occasion and in every interaction, to raise the level of your employees’ consciousness -- both individually and collectively. Hold up a vision of what they are capable of doing and becoming and what, as a result of their efforts, the company can become. Do it often enough that it becomes a collective vision, not yours alone.
Ask, ask, ask!! I bet you have never done this. Ask each & every employee that what can you do to make their life easier. Ask them how can things be done. And when you believe in what they are saying and ask them genuinely, things get easier. It’s not necessary that whatever is being told has to be followed but it has to be discussed and then the best decision has to be reached together.
Promote creativity. Procedures have their place in a bureaucracy but they also keep stultifying creative impulses.
- Examine policies that have become entrenched and ask what would happen if you scrap them.
- Encourage your employees to suggest what should be eliminated and what should be modified. If this is a sincere effort, energy will flow and engagement will rise.
- Encourage participation, Ask for suggestions and feedbacks.
- Have town Halls/Mission connects.
- Encourage by appreciation: Little words of praise can do wonders. Genuine appreciation is actually a tool to encourage better work. We can make our team members’ day by simply saying that,” I know you are putting great efforts.”
- Allow for a Work Environment of Autonomy and Trust. Although employees need to know when and how tasks need to be performed, they cannot work to their full potential when they are being overly micromanaged.
- This type of management creates an atmosphere of distrust, and eventually leads to workers giving less of themselves, becoming less effective; as a result, creativity and motivation are soon snuffed out. Giving employees autonomy and trust, with accountability, is far more effective, and allows them to improve in efficiency, quality of work as well as enjoy a real sense of personal accomplishment on-the-job.
I shall end my article with a small quote: “Praise is like sunlight to the human spirit: we cannot flower and grow without it.”
