Recognition is not just a nice thing to do for people. Recognition is a communication tool that reinforces and rewards the most important outcomes people create for your business, whether you are a sports team, club or corporation. When you recognize people effectively, you reinforce, with your chosen means of recognition, the actions and behaviors you most want to see people repeat.
Managers ask, “Why should I recognize or thank him? He’s just doing his job.” Times have changed dramatically. Employees and valuable team members can no longer be treated like machines. They come at a high price and can cost as much to replace. Workers expect to be valued as human beings. Today, the rewarding of employees is done as a partnership between the business and its employees
There are as many different rewards as there are people. These are a few examples of special ways to express thank you:
- Performance Awards - great for teams, sports, or corporations on completion of a task or work project - a small plaque or simple desk award with your business name as well as the employee's name to reinforce their contribution and their value to you
- Special Act or Service Award - an outstanding volunteer position, someone or group that went over and above with customer service, special attention or community service on behalf of your business - something as simple as a water bottle with your business name on it or a custom engraved crystal paperweight
- Length of Service Recognition - an employee, volunteer or member of your team that has been with your business an exception amount of time - the perfect gift for this would be a custom engraved clock
Here are some low cost suggestions:
- Take time to personally thank employees for doing a good job. Do it regularly, specifically and sincerely.
- Vary your approach when thanking employees. Some efforts merit formal letters of recognition with a copy to the employee’s file. For others, a timely and specific e-mail message can be effective. A few sincere words of thanks delivered in person is almost always appreciated.
- Low-key recognition activities can be very effective. Take a few minutes during a staff meeting to recognize a successful project and present the participants with an appropriate token such as a certificate, a "congratulations" cake, or their favorite candy bar.
- When someone has been successful, offer them a chance to teach others what they did. This will allow the unit to learn from the successful experience, and will acknowledge the person’s unique contribution to the work.
- Create a traveling trophy to be passed among team members whenever someone successfully completes a difficult task.
