Reinforcement Strategies

It's true that people don't come with instruction manuals, but don't fret. Human behavior, albeit unpredictable, is a process like any other part of an operation and can be managed as such. Gaining an understanding of this process will help produce a stress-free and profitable working atmosphere. If an employee is engaging in behavior to achieve something (positive reinforcement), he or she will constantly try to improve in order to attain more of it. But if an employee is trying to avoid a penalty, he or she will only work hard enough to avoid the consequence, essentially producing only the bare minimum.

Positive Reinforcement
If you want to improve your performance at something, or if you want to create new good habits, one very successful technique is the use of positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is effective and largely used for two separate reasons. Firstly, it is one of the most powerful techniques available for the direction or motivation of the actions of other people. The second reason which is more philosophical is the versatility of the concept of reinforcement as an explanation of behavior. In other words, the question is why do people behave the way they do? The answer will be that it is because they (people) are reinforced for it. Many companies employ the use of positive reinforcements to increase productivity, decrease absenteeism and workplace accidents. When positive reinforcements are used, the desired outcome is that the behavior is reinforced. Subjects understand that the behavior is desirable and will tend to repeat it for the rewards.
Validating employees by telling them how much you appreciate what they do goes a long way in the employee satisfaction and motivation department. How do you think it makes them feel if you can't even bother to take the time to give them a verbal pat on the back? Not too important, I assure you. I work as a Customer Service Associate, and I deal with retirees from GM and Chrysler Auto companies.... [continues]

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