Praise is needed as much for those whose work is improving as it is for those who always perform at a level of excellence. Recognition positively reinforces those working to improve their work and performance and it stabilizes those who normally turn in high-quality work. If one is making consistent improvements but no praise follows, the worker will assume that their work is not important and they will diminish their efforts.

The manager’s mindset must not become: I’m not going to praise this worker because it’s the first time they’ve ever done anything right. For one thing, the likelihood of this statement being true is slim. Everyone does something right sometime. And for another thing, it is even more important to praise this unusual happening in order to create a pattern of good behavior.