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Merrick, NY—The easiest way to both motivate and retain your employees also is the cheapest. In fact, it costs you nothing.

According to this article on SmartBlog on Leadership, one piece of praise can boost a team’s daily productivity by 30%. And multiple studies have shown that recognition positively correlates with retention, engagement, and talent acquisition, while lack of recognition is the leading factor for almost 8 out of 10 people who quit their jobs.  

The good news is that proper recognition well delivered will increase both individual and organizational results. Article author Julie Winkle Giulioni says the way to praise correctly is a list of 10 S’s: it should be spontaneous, swift, strategic, specific, sincere, singularly focused, special, surprising, supportive, and spread.

Don’t wait for review time to praise a job well done. Be personal, sincere, and be sure to praise specific behaviors to ensure those are repeated. You can ask if there’s anything more you can do to support the employee, but keep the praise moment 100% positive and don’t use it to sandwich in criticism. Also consider the employee’s personality—some are shy and would prefer a private thank you, while others bask in public praise. But whatever way you deliver positive recognition, to borrow a phrase from Nike, just do it. It’s contagious, but unlike the flu it's one of the few office bugs that you want to have employees spread around.

Read Guilioni’s full blog on how-to recognition tips here.

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