Read Time: 9 Minutes
This article discusses employee recognition, why it’s important, and best practices to boost employee recognition in the workplace.
Employee recognition is the open
A detailed research study by Quantum Workplace identified employee recognition as a
If you regularly give out authentic, deserved recognition to employees, you’ll be that much
Why does it feel so good to get a simple “thank you” from someone? All humans feel the need to be praised at some level. They want to know that their hard work and achievements aren't going unnoticed. When a person achieves a goal, personal or work-related, they feel a rush of achievement, and that good feeling is only amplified when others recognize and acknowledge the achievement as well.
Recognition can be tied to more than just performance. Celebrate strong effort when employees go above and beyond. This helps them develop emotional connections to the workplace that fuel future performance.
Achievements and actions that are recognized more frequently show employees what is valued by managers, leaders, and the organization as a whole. When we receive positive recognition for an action, we tend to associate that action with a reward and try to achieve that feeling again in future actions. So recognizing certain actions can reinforce the values an organization wants in its culture.
This new research offers statistics and suggestions on how to give authentic, meaningful recognition that boosts employee engagement.
The “how” of recognition is very important. Every employee embraces recognition differently. Some get a boost from public praise, while introverted workers prefer a subtle or private gesture. After identifying the employee’s personality type, openly encourage them through the types of recognition and appreciation that mean the most to them.
Receiving positive feedback from a manager or higher up is a validation of good work. Impressing a superior increases job security and the likelihood of a promotion or pay bump. But sometimes it feels just as good to be recognized by a coworker, even from someone lower on the org chart. Regardless of where it comes from, recognition feels good.
Most recognition is given by a known party. There’s typically no reason to separate recognition from the giver. But sometimes an anonymous shout-out or thank you card on an employee’s desk can have just as much power. It removes the thought that the giver is doling out recognition to seem like a team player rather than authentically expressing appreciation.
As mentioned above, no two employees prefer recognition the same way. Some crave the spotlight; others avoid it like the plague and would prefer subtle praise. Recognition should be tailored to the preferences of each individual’s personality.
Recognition is often linked to metrics, such as hitting a sales goal or staying with an organization for 20 years. But praise can also be lauded for working extra hours, going above and beyond to aid a coworker, or for successfully organizing an awesome company party.
The old-school line of thinking says that employees shouldn’t need recognition to succeed. They should be motivated to keep their job and increase their salary. There’s some truth to that – employees should take pride in their work and be motivated for reasons other than praise. But spotlighting strong performance is the frosting on the cake. It transforms a satisfied employee into one who actively pushes for greater things.
Don’t believe us? Here are some stats to prove the importance of employee recognition.
Here are just a few benefits of employee recognition:
Many people leave their jobs due to lack of recognition, while recognition is one of the top drivers for attracting candidates. Recognition not only reduces turnover, but it brings the top talent into your organization.
Employees work harder and more efficiently when they’re routinely recognized for strong work. Celebrating good work encourages employees to continually chase that praise.
Employee recognition encourages staff members to see positive attributes in one another. Allowing coworkers to nominate one another is extremely valuable, as it demonstrates they value each other’s contributions to the team. Research shows that 86 percent of employees say recognition makes them feel happier at work.
Receiving positive feedback strengthens the relationship between bosses and their direct reports. According to a 2017 study, nearly 90 percent of employees who received recognition from their boss indicated high levels of trust in that relationship, versus just 48 percent for those who received no recognition.
When employees are recognized for a job well done, they don’t have to worry about whether they’re putting in good work. Recognition reaffirms that their efforts are helping the organization, which can increase engagement and possibly lead to fewer sick days and tardiness.
An engaged employee leads to a satisfied customer. Research by Quantum Workplace found that leading customer service organizations report 60 percent more engaged employees.
Uncover which types of recognition employees value and which miss the mark.
You now understand the why behind employee recognition, but how do you put it into practice?
There’s no set-in-stone answer – it can look different in every workplace, depending on the personalities of the employees and the culture of the organization. Here are some really cool employee appreciation ideas we’ve seen:
SNACKNATION - "CRUSH IT" MEETINGS
The entire team from this healthy snack delivery company gathers each Friday afternoon to recognize one another. The staff goes around the room nominating other team members who “crushed it” over the past week. It’s helped the company maintain its connected culture even as it’s expanded from 30 to more than 100 employees.
CLOUD 9 LIVING - 'G' BOOK
Employees are encouraged to recognize each other by writing complimentary notes in the company’s book of “good stuff.” Submissions, both personal and work-related, are read aloud weekly at a company meeting. Employee recognition ideas like this have helped the company be featured on Today, The Talk, and The Ellen Degeneres Show.
GROUND FLOOR MEDIA - WEBSITE CALL-OUT
This Denver-based communications firm has a section of their website dedicated to a featured team member who’s performed well recently. These posts recognize employees for their lives and passions outside of work in addition to their contributions to the company.
ERGODYNE - WELLNESS GOALS
Recognition doesn’t have to be all about work. Ergodyne, a protective workwear manufacturer, highly encourages its employees to stay healthy, recognizing and incentivizing them for hitting personal fitness or nutrition goals.
BEST WESTERN - SOCIAL SHOUT-OUT
Extend recognition beyond your organization’s population. A Chicago location of the hotel chain created a Facebook page for employee Wallace Pope, calling him a “Star of the Industry.” Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are all easy ways to share standout employees with a greater audience.
Consider some of our top suggestions to make employees feel valued and start making meaningful connections within your workplace.
We think it might be. If you’re looking to effectively recognize employees in your organization, check out our all-in-one employee engagement software:
