Are you a manager, a team leader, or someone who’s simply interested in organizational behavior? Then read on. Positive reinforcement in the workplace is a subject that’s gaining more and more traction, and for good reason…it turns out that a pat on the back will always get you further than a slap on the wrist.
But why is positive reinforcement more effective than punishment when it comes to employee performance? Well, rather than making guesses, let’s check out some carrot-or-stick research. And just so you know, this is one of my favorite topics! (I’m a geeky behavioral psychologist, remember?)
What’s reinforcement and punishment, anyway?
Before we jump in, let’s define our terms, because they’re used very differently in our everyday vernacular than they’re used in behavioral management studies. Positive reinforcement is essentially rewarding a behavior with the intention of encouraging more of the same. (Imagine giving your dog a treat when she sits on command.) Punishment is delivering a negative consequence (think harmful, painful, or hurtful) in response to a behavior you don’t like. (I’m not even going to give an example of dog punishment. Too horrible to think about.)
As a quick aside, and just so I cover this topic accurately: Negative feedback is simply defined as asking someone to change their behavior and to substitute a more acceptable one. (Like when you say “no” to your dog when she tries to chew your rug, and then you hand her a rubbery toy instead.) To be clear, there’s a big difference between punishment and negative feedback. Negative feedback is sometimes a necessary component of effective communication. Punishment is not.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not likening employees to dogs! But guess what? These same principles work on humans in a workplace setting. So now, let’s delve into why reinforcement trumps punishment.
#1: Boosts job satisfaction
- Why it’s awesome: A satisfied employee is a productive one. When people feel their efforts are recognized and reinforced, they’re more likely to enjoy their job.
- The research behind it: According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management, recognition directly correlates with job satisfaction. The happier your employees, the better they perform.
#2: Encourages innovation
- Why it’s awesome: In an organization where positive behavior is rewarded, employees feel safer taking risks. (Hey, maybe that daring project proposal isn’t such a bad idea after all!)
- The research behind it: A paper published in Journal of Business Venturing found that positive reinforcement encourages entrepreneurial behavior, which includes innovation.
#3: Reduces employee turnover
- Why it’s awesome: Employee turnover is like throwing money out the window. It costs time and resources to train new people.
- The research behind it: The Work Institute’s 2019 Retention Report states that recognition is a key factor in employee retention.
#4: Cultivates a positive work environment
- Why it’s awesome: Who wants to work in a gloomy office? Positive reinforcement fosters a healthy work atmosphere, where employees are happy and unafraid.
- The research behind it: A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology showed a strong correlation between positive reinforcement and positive work environment.
#5: Enhances team collaboration
- Why it’s awesome: When one person is recognized, it can set off a ripple effect. Others are motivated to contribute meaningfully, and to collaborate with one another.
- The research behind it: Researchers at the University of Warwick found that employee happiness led to a 12% spike in productivity, as well as an uptick in interdepartmental collaboration.
#6: It’s just, well, more humane
- Why it’s awesome: Imagine coming to work and knowing that your every mistake could result in penalties. Stressful, right? Positive reinforcement is the kinder approach.
- The research behind it: Multiple psychological studies have consistently shown that punishment can lead to stress, anxiety, burnout, and reduced self-esteem.
So why not punishment?
Let’s address the elephant in the article. You may be thinking, “Yeah, but surely punishment has its merits too, right?” In the short term, maybe. (That’s a maybe, not a yes.) But in the long term? Not so much.
Once more, research (lots of research) is crystal clear. And it’s not just with human subjects… all mammalian reinforcement/punishment studies produce the same results: reinforcement invariably trumps punishment in behavioral learning models. So, at the risk of getting into trouble (again!) by comparing our furry friends to our employees, it really is true that both a dog treat and a human compliment will serve you better!
Back to our employees. For starters, punishment in the workplace can lead to fear-based compliance. This means that employees will do just enough not to get fired, but they’ll venture no further than necessary. (Goodbye creativity, innovation, and “take-charge” workers who go the extra mile.) Furthermore, punishment squelches communication, stunts personal growth, produces higher turnover, discourages teamwork, generates company apathy/disloyalty, and – let’s be real – no one wants to work in a negative, defeatist environment.
Wrap-up
So there you have it! Positive reinforcement is more than just a feel-good strategy – it’s backed by solid science and real-world success stories. Positive reinforcement fosters a more engaged, satisfied, creative, and ultimately more productive workforce. So, the next time you’re considering how to boost productivity and morale, remember: Forget the sticks and bring on the carrots! Your team, and your bottom line, will thank you.
Want to read more on your own? Here are a few links to articles I think you’ll enjoy.
https://hbr.org/2017/09/what-motivates-employees-more-rewards-or-punishments
https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/its-science-baby-proving-the-power-of-positive/302489
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-positive-reinforcement-workplace-lydia-randall
That’s it for today! Thanks for being a subscriber/follower, and I’ll see you next time. Stay curious, engaged, and positive! It’s good for your body and mind, as well as for the world.