Recognizing employees for the work they do is essential to creating a positive workplace. Whether you’re a small business owner or a large organization, there are many ways to recognize employees for their contributions. Here’s how you can do so with these 4 employee recognition examples.
Shine a spotlight on important achievements
It’s important to recognize achievements in public, but it is equally essential to do so privately. It is important to recognize achievements in person and with writing as well.
The purpose of recognizing employee accomplishments is not only to thank employees for their hard work but also to encourage them to continue working hard. When you show someone how much they mean to your company by recognizing their efforts, they will want to do more for you and feel motivated.
Make a connection to company values
One of the most important things to consider when giving recognition is that it should be personalized. This means that you’re recognizing their specific contributions, not just saying “good job” or “thank you”. Make sure that you don’t get too generic with your praise and try to think about what specifically made them do what they did, especially if it was something hard for them.
You also want to make sure the timing is right when giving recognition—you want it to feel spontaneous, like a surprise. If someone can see coming a mile away that they’re going to be recognized for something because they were working hard, then it’s less meaningful than if they’re just in the flow of work and suddenly someone mentions how great a job they did.
Don’t forget to be specific when giving recognition; while everyone likes getting compliments on their work, only some people enjoy being told exactly how their efforts helped out others at the company (and even this is dependent on the person). And finally, make sure your employee appreciates all forms of appreciation equally; if one type doesn’t seem effective anymore then switch things up.
Celebrate successes, no matter how small they are
When you recognize an employee’s success, it gives them a sense of validation. It shows that their hard work was recognized and appreciated by the company. It also helps motivate employees to continue working towards additional goals, because they know that their efforts will not go unnoticed.
Additionally, when employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to want to do more and better work for the company in the future. This can improve employee retention rates which saves time and money in training new staff members down the road.
Keep in mind that recognition isn’t just about the money
While you should reward your employees with cash and other tangible rewards, remember that recognition isn’t just about the money. Paying people for their hard work is one way of showing them that they are valued, but it’s not the only way.
Recognition can be done in a variety of ways, such as:
- Publicly posting appreciation on social media channels or an employee newsletter.
- Dedicating an entire email exclusively to recognizing an individual or group’s achievements. This could include photos and/or videos from a recent event you attended together, highlighting how their contributions helped make it possible.
- Giving compliments to individuals when they do something well or go above and beyond their regular duties.
Conclusion
The best way to grow a company is by making sure all employees feel valued and appreciated for their efforts. Recognition is one of the most powerful ways to do this, so make sure you’re implementing it into your culture and business practices. A good place to start is with these four employee recognition examples that we’ve outlined here today.
