Employee recognition is a crucial aspect of any successful business. It not only helps to boost morale and increase job satisfaction, but it can also improve productivity, retention rates, and aid in your ability to land top talent.
Yet, despite its importance, many companies struggle to implement effective employee recognition strategies. Some do it well occasionally, but they don’t have a programme or system that helps them nail it on a regular basis.
In this guide, we’ll cover the importance of employee recognition, how to do it well, the role of tech in employee appreciation, and how to build a successful programme.
Why is Employee Recognition Important?
Employee recognition is important for countless reasons. Here are just a few:
Employee Recognition Boosts Morale
Employee recognition helps to boost morale by showing employees that their hard work and contributions are valued and appreciated. When employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to feel motivated and committed to their job. Recognition also helps to create a positive work culture and foster a sense of belonging within the organisation.
Employee Recognition Improves Productivity
When employees feel recognized and valued for their contributions, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged in their work. This can lead to improved productivity as employees are more likely to put in extra effort and be more efficient in their tasks. Employee recognition can also help to foster a positive work culture, which can create a more enjoyable and harmonious work environment.
Employee Recognition Increases Retention Rates
As mentioned above, employee recognition helps employees feel valued, appreciated, and like they belong. This sense of belonging can be a key factor in employee retention, as employees are more likely to stay with an organisation that they feel is supportive and rewarding.
What Kind of Employee Behaviours Should be Recognized?
Choosing the kinds of behaviours you appreciate and recognize can be tough. If you and your managers go out of your way to recognise every single behaviour, it can be tough to sustain that kind of consistency. On the other hand, being stingy with what you recognise can limit overall morale and harm your culture.
Here are some behaviours you should consider recognizing every time you see them:
- Going above and beyond: Recognize employees who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty and put in extra effort to help the organisation succeed.
- Innovative thinking: Recognize employees who come up with new and creative ideas or approaches to problems.
- Teamwork and collaboration: Recognize employees who consistently work well with others and contribute to a positive team environment.
- Exceeding goals: Recognize employees who consistently meet or exceed their targets and objectives.
- Customer service excellence: Recognize employees who consistently and regularly provide excellent service to customers, whether internal or external.
Two things to keep in mind are the themes of consistency and “going above and beyond.” Recognising an employee every time they do what is expected of them isn’t sustainable, and probably not all that helpful.
Seek to recognise employees who go the extra mile and those who consistently meet expectations over the long run.
6 Effective Ways to Recognize Employees
There are tons of ways to recognize employees for great work. Here are six proven and effective approaches to appreciate employees.
- Verbal Praise: This can be as simple as thanking an employee for their hard work or acknowledging their contributions in a team meeting. Verbal praise is a quick and easy way to show appreciation and can go a long way in boosting morale.
- Written Recognition: This could be in the form of a thank you note or an email acknowledging an employee’s efforts. Written recognition provides a tangible record of appreciation that employees can look back on and can be especially meaningful when it comes from a manager or senior leader.
- Gifts: Everyone loves a good gift! Unlike a note or public praise, a gift (especially if it’s a useful one) keeps on giving. Employees appreciate it when they receive it and are reminded of your appreciation when they use it! Consider corporate gifts for the whole team or a personalised gift for individuals.
- Public Recognition: This could be as simple as mentioning an employee’s contributions in a company-wide email or during a team meeting. Public recognition is a great way to show appreciation in front of peers and can be particularly motivating.
- Rewards and Incentives: This could be anything from a small gift or token of appreciation to a more substantial reward such as additional paid time off or a promotion. Rewards and incentives can be an effective way to recognize and motivate employees.
- Development Opportunities: Recognizing employees by providing them with opportunities for professional development can be an excellent way to show appreciation. This could include things like training courses, conference attendance, or leadership development programs.
How to Build a Successful Employee Recognition Programme
Recognizing an employee here and there is nice, but to build a culture that thrives in the long term requires an effective employee recognition program. Building a successful one takes intentional planning, as well as some trial and error. Here are some tips for getting started:
- Define the goals and objectives of the programme: It’s important to have a clear understanding of what you hope to achieve through employee recognition. This could include things like improving morale, increasing retention rates, or boosting productivity.
- Involve employees in the process: Ask employees for their input on what types of recognition they would find most meaningful. This can help to ensure that the programme resonates with employees and is well-received.
- Establish clear internal criteria for recognition: Determine the specific behaviours or achievements that will be recognized through the programme. Use the list above, and try to keep the explicit criteria internal among your leadership team.
- Choose appropriate recognition methods: Consider what types of recognition will be most effective for your organisation. This could include things like verbal praise, written recognition, rewards and incentives, or development opportunities.
- Communicate the programme to employees: Make sure that all employees are aware of the recognition programme and how it works. This could involve providing training or hosting informational sessions.
- Implement and track the program: Once the programme is up and running, it’s important to track its progress and make any necessary adjustments. This could involve gathering feedback from employees and reviewing data on the program’s impact.
The Role of Tech in Employee Appreciation
Technology is impacting every aspect of how we work – including the way we recognize and appreciate employees.
Technology can help automate aspects of employee recognition, gamify employee appreciation and professional development, and curate and deliver digital rewards.
New tools and softwares are popping up all the time in the employee recognition space. Some are strictly for employee appreciation, while others are more broad tools that include features for HR, professional development, and culture building.
- Nectar: A great recognition and rewards software focused on creating great cultures
- Assembly: A peer-to-peer recognition, rewards, and engagement software
- Bonusly: A fun and easy way to recognize and reward employees
- Worktango: An all-in-one employee experience platform
Appreciate Your Employees and Establish a Strong Culture
There are a lot of different ways to go about recognizing your employees. There are a lot of different behaviours you can recognize, ways to appreciate them, and tools that help.
The most important thing is that you’re intentional about it, and on the same page with your leadership team and managers.