Source: Max Prevo for OfficeVibe
After a long, hot summer night, running between tables with spilled drinks and messed up orders, sometimes you just want to give up and cry. Suddenly, that one manager you never thought cared about pulls you aside to tell you how well you are doing your job and that the team would not be the same without you. The stress, the rush, the fatigue… all of it becomes worth it with a simple amount of recognition.
Such actions instill a sense of purpose and pride in people by enhancing our self-fulfillment needs of being an esteemed individual. Ultimately, human beings are social people that unconsciously seek the approval of others. Fostering recognition creates a great foundation for team relationships. It develops trust and deep respect amongst individuals within an organization.
What is employee recognition?
Employee recognition is a method of talent retention that essentially gives positive feedback. It encourages employees by recognizing the great work they have been doing on a specific project or task. More importantly, it makes employees of an organization feel acknowledged and appreciated.
Why is it important?
A company can consist of hundreds (or thousands) of talented individuals, and as a result some employees may feel that it is difficult to stand out. Employee recognition, however, allows them to feel noteworthy and to receive words of affirmation from individuals they look up to, such as a manager. It makes them feel appreciated, which provokes a higher level of productivity in the organization. If employees receive the respect and recognition they deserve, they will not only perform tasks better but also go beyond their responsibilities to demonstrate their loyalty and gratitude.
According to a 2016 report done by Gallup, only a third of workers in the United States reported receiving recognition or praise for doing great work within the past week. This demonstrates that many organizations overlook this opportunity for greater employee engagement. Well-recognized individuals tend to be more loyal to their organization and more satisfied, which in turn leads to greater employee retention.
How to Make It Meaningful
Timeliness
Let people know about their great efforts in real-time; it shows that you are genuinely paying attention to their day-to-day work. Additionally, the sooner you acknowledge one’s strong performance, the sooner they acknowledge that they should continue their valued work.
Contingency
Recognize employees when they truly deserve recognition. If used too often in the wrong contexts, employee recognition will create a culture of entitlement in the organization. Explain the recognition with specific actions that are aligned with the business strategy such that it encourages other employees to follow suit.
Sincerity
Avoid recognizing your employees just for the sake of it. Take the time to find the proper words and the right medium to authentically show your appreciation. Demonstrate the recognized employee’s accomplishment with tangible proof such as a customer review or an impressive sales figure.
What You Can Do
Now that you are informed of the many ways employee recognition positively contributes to a great work environment, here are some things you can do:
As a student, if you are part of a student organization, make sure you have a teammate recognition program – whether it is a #kudos channel on your Slack workspace or just a simple text.
As a professional, suggest an employee recognition program to your People Operations Department, or make sure it embodies meaningful recognition.
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