Positive Feedback and Reinforcement

Positive feedback motivates students and encourages them to continue doing their jobs well. Positive feedback is most effective when you:

• Recognize a specific action/behavior.
• Give it as soon as possible after the student’s good work occurs.
• Deliver it in a sincere manner.
• Direct it toward an individual rather than a group.
• Adapt it to the student’s style/preference.
• Keep it proportional to the work being recognized.

It is also a good idea to express general appreciation to your student employees for the outstanding support that they provide. Ways you might do this include:

• Celebrating National Student Employment Week. Supervisors receive information during the spring semester regarding this important event.
• Nominating excellent student employees for Student Employee of the Year. Supervisors receive information in January regarding the nomination process.
• Sending students thank-you notes, or creating a large thank-you note, signed by all staff members, to display in the department.
• Creating awards or certificates to give to your students. (Best Customer Service, Most Professional, Most Likely to Show up in a Snow Storm, etc.)
• Providing students with letters of recommendation for their job searches.
• Offering occasional “treat breaks” such as popcorn, candy, cookies, etc.
• Celebrating the birthdays of student staff members.

Be creative!

For more information on the topic of positive feedback, see Bringing Out the Best in People, by Alan Loy.