If being recognized as an employee of the month is done on work performance it can be a great motivator but when its done on who kissed the most butt then it could have an opposite effect.

INDIVIDUAL PRAISE
<pictured: Employee of the month from Holiday Inn, Karen Jacobsen, Feb 2005>

First of all, Karen's a slut.

I had to get that out of the way.

It's not a question of motivation or cause for jealousy. It's both.

I have seen many a situation where the "employee of the month" is usually the one the company awards, however, truth be told, the "employee of the month" is also the one you could cite the most for breaking rules, cheating, and doing anything to get something accomplished... sometimes the motivation is job survival (somewhat honorable), sometimes money (mildly honorable) and sometimes the pure thrill, joy and sexual release they get of seeing themselves as the employee of the month (highly dishonorable).

I don't believe in singling people out unfairly.

Let's have "Curmudgeon of the month" so others have a chance to be winners too.

Total motivation. I'm a sucker for needing recognition for kind of, well... everything that I do, so individual praise is geeereat...

I find that praise increases the morale and productivity of those who are doing a good job and encourages them to continue.  Employees need to feel like their efforts are being noticed and appreciated.  Granted, some less motivated employees may be inclined to be jealous, but they typically aren't the employees who are putting forth the effort either and tend to feel that they deserve praise just for showing up every day.

as long as you mean it

It's cool, but really, it's not something I would strive for.

FINALLY!

some people just have to have it

Great way!

The best praise.

"Good job Ginger, You remebered to flush today"

Give them a pat on the back and tell them that they are doing good work, and you get a lot more out of employees.

I don't think there is anything wrong with people getting special recognition for the good job they are doing once in awhile.  After all, we all need incentive once in awhile, but one has to be very careful giving this kind of recognition in front of other employees, as I have seen the claws come out and jealousies do arise, and then that employee is all of a sudden called a brown noser, all because they wanted to take pride in their work.

How can this not be a great thing?

Everyone likes a bit of praise for their hard work,but if there's no other rewards,it can ring pretty hollow.

Yes, as long as it's totally honest. If a boss is totally honest, with your good work AND your bad, it's very motivating. Quite often the person doesn't realize the bad stuff is happening, and if brought to attention will also make the worker think twice. If a boss praises only it is not motivating.

Praise is very key in motivating an employee however, it can't be fake. I work at safeway and they will tell you what you want to hear and it's sicking. I like to be left alone to do my job. I am a self motivated person, I believe in good work ethic,therefore I give one-hundred and fifty percent on my job. Sometimes it gives me a jump start when someone notices the good job I'm doing and praises me for it.

I like this concept. But I also like (even more) the idea of being left alone on my job and also being left alone to do my job.

Everybody needs some praise, otherwise in time they are less motivated to do a good job if no one is letting them know that they are doing a good job. But over-praising causes problems because nobody's perfect.

You have to make your employees feel appreciated. A content workforce is a productive workforce; they'll put in more effort into their job.

Any good manager will tell you that it is absolutely imperative you commend people individually and make sure they feel appreciated.

So long as it is not laid on thick and it not a bunch of B.S. a little can go along way to make an employee feel better about the job and the organization.

Underrated. . .but it is a little high-schoolish. Pay my ass, don't pat me on the head and give me psycho-babble about how much I give to the company.

Usually sounds insincere. If it were genuine, then it'd be a great motivator.

I appreciate it from time to time but only if it's genuine. Most people, including myself, can tell when it's just so much smoke up the wazoo - which, of course, renders it meaningless while lowering your opinion of whoever said it. If you dont get some kind of feedback once in awhile, you can begin to feel as though youre in a vacuum.

Individual praise is normally the best way to motivate someone, employee or otherwise. It shows that your boss actually cares about your work for the company. I like to be praised, that's for sure; but if you compliment someone, make sure you actually mean it, otherwise it becomes a waste of breath.

Costs nothing to do, but can work wonders. If you doubt praise is a motivator, look at how many ranking lists we now have of RateItAll Reviewers, which always create heavy traffic. How many of us have scraped our knees to inspire a little love (and helpful clicks) out of others? I know I've gone through my share of bandages, and see generous praise as a virtue -- as long as you genuinely mean it.

The best kind of motivation. Honest, heartfelt--and it shows that you are making a difference, because the superior is taking time out from their job/life to tell you how good you are doing.