Mokaila urges rewarding workplace excellence
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Tuesday June 25, 2019 14:19
Mokaila said this when delivering his keynote address during the MENT’s 7th Excellence and Distinction Awards that were recently held at Adansonia Hotel.
Mokaila stated that rewarding good performance is a very challenging task, which should be done in a manner that is transparent so that deserving individuals be rewarded.
He said that MENT strongly believes that continuous improvement is a vital part of performance and management.
He added that it is also part of their belief system that the ministry continues to recognise the desired behaviours and performance through simple acts like a pat on the back, words of affirmation, public verbal recognisation to only mention but a few.
Mokaila also said that it is a well known fact that employees who are appreciated, recognised and valued are most likely to continue working harder and even better in order to improve service delivery.
Mokaila further said that the awards are taking place at a time when MENT and government are engaging in initiatives which would benefit the citizens of Botswana such as lifting of the 2014 hunting ban, community and citizen empowerment in the tourism sector, the elephant management plan and a new policy on climate change.
He added that as MENT they would engage with all key stakeholders to ensure that the initiatives are implemented with all the necessary decorum in the best interests of Batswana.
The minister congratulated those who were rewarded during the ceremony saying that they were finally reaping what they sowed.
He said that their good performance is a contribution towards the national aspiration of prosperity for all.
He, however, stated that without humility all that they are celebrating would be shortlived.
“I know how difficult clients are when they come to the offices. Some of them are impatient and intolerant but serve them with Botho (humility) to earn their respect,” he encouraged.
Mokaila urged the employees of MENT that a great performer with bad habits and conduct is of no use to the nation because Batswana value well-behaved people.
The minister wished his ministry’s workers a good year noting that it used to be in the top three of the best performing ministries during the eight years he spent as its head.
Mokaila explained that the awards were part of the Botswana Public Service Reward Programme that the government started to enhance performance and productivity.
He said that the objectives of the awards are to encourage exceptional performance, reward initiatives, ideas, and creativity, and sustain good governance practices in ministries.
The awards ceremony was held under the theme, ‘Excelling with distinction: A breakthrough to service delivery’.