What is the Most Important Rule in People Management?
The single most important rule of management is this:
"Whatever gets rewarded, gets done."
That single sentence should act as the guiding light which illuminates your thinking about managing and motivating people.
"Whatever gets rewarded, gets done" means, you must become extremely conscious of what behaviours you are rewarding.
The sad truth is that, many bad behaviours are often inadvertently rewarded, (think of a mother giving a misbehaving child a bar of chocolate, in order to pacify him).
The same kind of thing happens in your organisation.
Whatever behaviour gets rewarded, gets repeated.
So, don't fall into the trap of accidentally rewarding bad behaviours.
You should note that the opposite statement is also true: "Whatever behaviours do NOT get rewarded, will soon stop."
If a colleague exerts extra effort, over an extended time, obtaining good results for the business, and that extra effort goes unnoticed and unrewarded, you can be sure that they will be less likely to repeat such efforts.
You should be sure that you and your organisation does not accidentally reward the following behaviours.
- Yes-man mentality
- Indecision (the refusal to make a decision for fear of making a wrong one)
- Chronic risk avoidance
These three behaviours are often rewarded, and consequently the organisation as a whole becomes slow to change and adapt, and thus is at risk of being selected for extinction.
It is vital that you and your organisation recognise and reward the following behaviours:
- Constructive criticism of the current set up
- Creative thinking
- Intelligent risk taking
These three behaviours are often NOT rewarded, and often they are even discouraged.
All successful organisations thrive because they encourage these types of behaviours.
Whenever you see a person giving constructive criticism, or creative thinking, or taking intelligent risks, you should single-out that person for praise, appreciation and reward.
The reward does not have to be money, although it could be.
Rewards can come in the form of personal recognition, appreciation, thanks, and career advancement.
You cannot afford to NOT reward risk taking, creativity and constructive criticism.
You cannot afford to reward Yes-man mentality, indecision and chronic risk avoidance.
Remember the following sentences and ponder their important implications:
- Behaviours I reward, will be repeated.
- Behaviours I fail to reward, will stop.
Reward principle
In business management, this principle states that people repeat any action that brings them praise or benefit. It works through positive rewards, applies to both helpful and harmful acts, and lets leaders shape culture by choosing what they reward. If any part is missing, the link between reward and repeated behaviour breaks.
CG4D Definition
Context: Business management
Genus: Principle
- Behaviour is repeated only when it earns a reward
- Uses positive reward rather than punishment
- Applies equally to good and bad actions
- Lets managers guide future actions by giving or holding back rewards
Article Summary
In people management, the behaviour you reward is the behaviour you grow; praise creative ideas, smart risks and honest feedback and your team will repeat them, but favour delay or yes men and progress will stall. Choose rewards with care, because today’s spotlight shapes tomorrow’s culture.