Looking after each other.

[Stonepounder]

11. I am a firm believer in 'complaining' when something is not up to my expectations.

And, by the same token, I am also a firm believer in letting management know when someone exceeds my expectations. A company I used to work for had one of the greatest incentive programs I have ever seen. About once a month we would have a team meeting and our boss would pass out 'attaboys'. They were just certificates good for somewhere between $10 and $25. You had to spend them on 'you'. Take yourself (and your significant other) out to a movie, buy yourself a DVD or CD, or save them up. Once you 'spent' them, you just turned in an expense report with the certificates attached, and the company cut you a check. We loved them!

I am always amazed at how thrilled managers are to receive compliments and how concerned and appreciative they are to receive complaints (providing of course that the complaints are constructive). I once had a restaurant manager give ma a $100 gift certificate when I told him that his chicken enchilada had too much cheese in it. He literally gasped. He said: 'No wonder my budget is off. Do you know how much more cheese costs than chicken?'

Managers and bosses need feedback to know whether things are going well or poorly. And I would much rather give a compliment than a complaint.