Morale in the gutter? Give employees the ‘attaboy’ speech

President Obama’s visit to the CIA on Monday offers three lessons for writing a speech that tells employees the boss supports them

Does morale at your company need a boost?

Here’s a low cost suggestion for lifting esprit de corps: Tell the boss to deliver a speech showing his or her support. Consider it a rhetorical slap on the back, a hearty “attaboy” from the boss.

On Monday, President Obama did just that for CIA staffers—his employees—when he visited their headquarters to both reassure them they wouldn’t face prosecution on torture charges and to lavish praise upon the beleaguered agency.

“You are an indispensable tool, the tip of the spear, in America’s intelligence mission and our national security,” Obama said. “It is because of you that I can make good decisions.”

Even though your company isn’t fretting over torture policies (let’s hope), the employees may need to hear that the boss supports them. They may need an attaboy speech.

Speechwriter Mike Long said Obama does at least three things very well in his speech.

“There are excellent lessons for anyone who has a speech to give that is all about support—which is what this is—a reassuring speech,” Long added.