It’s a pretty straight forward relationship: If people are not recognized for their hard work, they stop working hard.  This begs the question: what is the best way to recognize someone for a job well done?  A survey recently published in USA Today found that the most preferred way people want to be recognized is verbal recognition.  Verbal recognition was preferred more than twice as much as cash bonuses, nearly five times a much as additional time off and seven times as much as thank you cards or notes.  This is great news because the preferred way people want to be recognized is the least costly and the easiest to deliver–cash bonuses and additional time off cost money and thank you cards and notes take time.  So, the next time someone goes the extra mile for you and you want them to do it again in the future, reach out and shake their hand, look them in the eye and say “thank you.”  This is how successful people get that way.