“People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude.” — John Maxwell
From a very early age, we start life off craving recognition from parents, our school teachers, and our friends. Our desire for positive affirmation, particularly during developmental periods, is so strong that we can even perceive a simple neutral reaction as a negative one! This trend continues to hold true as we move into the workplace.
Great Place To Work did a survey of a large, thriving organization asking the Team what motivated them most and found that the largest response was the employees wanted to be recognized for their work.
In the same study, when asked what makes their workplace “great,” the employees who responded positively to survey questions measuring recognition say that they are “incredibly lucky,” “enjoy hanging” and that the company has “excellent integrity,” “uplifting environment” and some mentioned their “career success.”
There is no “one size fits all” show of recognition and appreciation for the different types of organizations out there, just remember that little things can go a long way. While it’s crucial to recognize major accomplishments, don’t overlook the power of the everyday thank-you to motivate employees.
The pandemic has definitely made it more challenging to see all the great things your employees do each day to make a difference in the lives of colleagues and your clients. This is why it has never been more important to bring your Team recognition program to life inside of the tools employees are already using every single day. You will not only increase the visibility of your employees, but you will curate your culture shaping moments so they will become an asset to your organization!
Writing handwritten notes, or even using social media to promote performance of your team, can help instill a regular culture of Team recognition. These shout-outs don’t have to come from managers alone; some employees may find recognition more motivating when it comes from their peers rather than from leadership! So when you see or hear of somebody doing something great, take the time to recognize the person! You never know how you might change how that person’s day is going!