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As a management development trainer, I've taught workshops on people problem solving skills using a quadrant of behaviors that that have uses extensively by many corporations in the teaching of interpersonal skills. Before I share these behaviors and its relationship to showing appreciation, please be reminded that recognition is universal and are the greatest need of employees. Showing appreciation is recognition.

Although appreciation is universal, how we show it will differ by behavior type. Please not I am stating behavior and not personality. Behavior is what we see at a given moment of time subject to change based on interaction. So, these suggestions of the four types are guidelines and not meant to box people in. Here are my suggestions:

1) The aggressive type of employee gives great priority to task success at the expense of relationships. They are opinionated, demanding and stubborn with huge ego. Here are some guidelines: 1) Show appreciation by asking for their input as they greatly value their expertise 2) If you are a boss, reward then them with a promotion or a hefty pay increase 3) Recognize their achievements in writing and courtesy copy the executive level.

2) The passive aggressive type of employee is opposite in that they shun themselves form the spotlight. They deeply crave security and behave in a like manner: cautions, reticent, by the book and greatly honor the status quo. Suggestions: 1) gently and softly express your appreciation privately for their efforts privately sharing how their effort contributed to the department's success 2) If possible, keep them with the same tasks as their need for security creates a risk averse attitude

3) The passive type of behavior wants to be a pal at work, They display a great social need and are dominated by wanting to be liked coupled with an addiction to approval. In order to avoid conflict, they frequently say "yes" when they mean"no". Suggestions: 1) Be more sociable to these behavior types than the other two, Without getting sidetracked, ask about family and frame mind. 2) Recognize their contributions privately and concretely as public affection may make then feel uncomfortable with coworkers who were not recognized

4) The assertive is the ideal behavior type balancing task orientation with people skills, Behaviors include good listening, effective use of questioning, and sensitivity to the challenges facing the organization and the boss. Unlike the aggressive employee using the pronoun "I", this type uses "we" as a display of a team approach. Suggestions: 1) These employees want to use all of their potential so different types of tasks and projects will show appreciation 2) They will appreciate the lack of "sugar coating" by your use of a candid approach and 3) Recognize their efforts as soon as possible and be concrete either in writing or verbally. Writing is the most powerful in that the message is forever and shows them greater effort on your part.

In closing , please consider the validity of the following quote: " It is impossible to acknowledge someone too much"!

Learn more about this author, Joseph Wardy.
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