Going the Extra Mile - Feedback and Thank you

[gee4]

When someone praises you or thanks you for your efforts in completing a task, whether it is scheduling a meeting or organising complex travel, do you cc your boss?

I have just received an email thanking me for the effort I put in to organise travel for a group of people over the last 2 weeks.

I certainly thinks it makes a difference and I have replied acknowledging the "thank you" email and cc-ing my boss.  Not only do I provide support for my own line manager's teams, but I also look after other teams, which involves work my boss would never see sight of.  Therefore in that regard I think it's important that he is kept informed of my workload, not forgetting how time consuming it can be.

This is what matters when it comes to end of year reviews so hopefully he will take note!

[Brighton Rock]

Our annual reviews don't include any element of assessing pay increases, but concentrate on performance.  Pay increases are negotiated by our remuneration committee, which also includes staff representation, and applied across the board at the same rate. 

The sorts of acknowledgements you mention are an indication of others perceive you are achieving.  I think it is important to draw these to the manager's attention and also to keep a copy in one's personal file.  Every little helps in creating one's personal image and profile in the eyes of the company, and needs to be mined assiduously - no-one else is going to do your "PR" for you. 

My personal file (not my personnel file, which is with HR) contains copies of all the correspondence I have with my employers, leave forms, appraisals, absence notes, and training/education certificates, as well as any acknowledgements.  It's a sort of history of my time with my company, and means I have everything to hand when needed. 

[gee4]

Our annual reviews and pay increases are conducted in much the same way as yours BR.

However when it comes to "mastering the job" and "assessing level of expertise", I do agree these acknowledgments make for a strong review, especially since I have only been with my current boss since November due to the last company re-organisation.

Doing your own PR...I like it!

[peaches2160]

I always copy my boss since we are rated on performance reviews that ultimately feed to our merit increases.

[Atlanta Z3]

My boss would consider this cluttering up his email.  If I have been complimented on a job well done by someone else, I ask them to tell my boss personally.  I also keep an "apples" and "worms" file in my outlook.  Apples are those compliments, worms are emails where I forgot to attach something!  I realize the personal comment will not be remembered come review time, but I also keep a list of accomplishments that I sent to my boss prior to his completing my review.

[gee4]

Atlanta, however negative that sounds, my boss was pleased I had made him aware of this and in doing so, also commented his thoughts to me.

You cannot rely on individuals to inform each of our line managers of a job well done.  For me the "thank you" was personal and therefore my place to share with my boss.  Not only that but written is better than verbal as it's proof and there for all to see.