Have you ever heard of the Hawthorne effect? It took place in the fifties and is still as valid now as it was then.
Two groups of workers were chosen and separated into differing areas of a workshop. They were given identical tasks, but one group’s environment remained the same and the other group had their lighting increased so that they had a much brighter, lighter area to work in.
I know that we aren’t talking of office workers in serviced offices or modern commercial properties, but the theory remains sound.
In the initial test, the productivity of the group in the improved conditions, leapt ahead when the lighting was increased.
It was concluded that increased levels of lighting improved productivity. To strengthen the theory the lighting was improved even more and once again, the productivity went up.
Then, to prove the antithesis of the theory, the level of light was dropped quite radically and lo and behold productivity actually went up again. How could that be right?
The scientists looked at the production output of the test group that were in normal conditions in a separate part of the factory and their production had also gone up. It appeared that, whatever the scientists did to the test groups their production improved in some way.
The tests were continued and it was discovered that these improvements were temporary and would only happen if constant attention and change was lavished on the workers. These short term boosts are called, the Hawthorne effect.
So remember, all someone needs to do better in their job, is a little personal attention and this is a good thing, because unlike a pay rise, it’s free.
When your employees accomplish something your recognition is appreciation for that achievement. I believe that most managers don’t give enough recognition because they don’t get enough. If this applies to you, you need to drop this excuse like a bad habit. Look at the price, recognition is free.
Using plaques or trophies is an effective way of applauding your employees. Take the time to be creative, matching special accomplishments with unique awards.
