PeopleSmart in Business eBook - The Platinum Rule

138
Six: Leadership Styles
clinch the President’s Productivity Award with your name engraved
on a plaque next to the big boss himself.”
Many businesses use yearly contests to motivate their employees. Interacting
Socializers tend to sprint toward a quick win—for the fi rst
week or two. Th en they may say to themselves, “Hey, I have a whole
year to win this contest. Why am I working so hard now?” Th ey may
further get sidetracked by other things and do nothing more about it
until a week before the contest ends. If they can get excited enough,
they may win anyway, but the truth is they haven’t worked toward the
goal for 11 months. How can these types keep up their motivation?
Since Interacting Socializers like constant rewards along the way, they
may favor shorter contests with smaller payoff s, perhaps culminating
in the big one when the year ends. One person even jokingly suggests,
“How about an employee of the hour award?” Or, they may enlist other
colleagues’ assistance who are better at implementation than they are.
Complimenting Interacting Socializers
Pay direct personal compliments to them, as individuals when legitimately
deserved. “You are a terrifi c person and a wonderful employee.”
Mention their charm, friendliness, creative ideas, persuasiveness,
and/or appearance (or better yet, all of the above). While other types
respond to more specifi c job-related comments, Interacting Socializers
can mentally relive more global generalizations for weeks to come.
“We are so lucky to have you with us, Dee. You’re a real gem.”
Counseling Interacting Socializers
Give them ample opportunity to talk about whatever may be bothering
them. Pay attention to both facts and feelings, but put your primary
emphasis on their feelings. Ask probing questions and involve
them by asking how they could solve the challenge or diffi culty. Sometimes,
just airing their feelings and thoughts relieves tension for these