We get up and go to work every day for a paycheck, right? Maybe not. Research from Salesforce. com found that it is not always about the money when it comes to careers. Nearly 80 percent of employees said that recognition in their careers is a more important motivator. But, there is a discrepancy between what employees want for their hard work, and what they receive. Recognition is an easy, effective approach to motivating employees, and effective leaders know this. There are a number of ways you can recognise your employees’ hard work, but these tips should always be kept in mind.
1. Recognition should be direct and specific. The best way to motivate your employees through recognition is to be clear about what action you are praising. General praises such as “you always work so hard,” and “good work this week,” are nice, but they do not let employees know which actions to continue. Recognise which specific action was
impressive and how it contributed to improving the company’s bottom line. Here is an example: “Karen, I am so impressed with how you dealt with that upset customer yesterday. You did a great job of calming her down so you could explain why her package was delayed. You were definitely the reason she did not cancel her order. Great job!”
2. Recognition should be sincere.
Do not rush to implement employee recognition programs without considering why employee recognition is important. The purpose of employee recognition is to motivate employees and show them that you appreciate them. It is not a task to simply check off a list. When you attempt to implement widespread employee recognition into your company in a rush, it can come off as canned and insincere.
3. Recognition should be accompanied by a benefit or reward.
Tying some type of reward to recognition is a great tactic for motivating your employees to continue their hard work. These rewards do not necessarily have to be cash bonuses or raises. A few ideas are:
• Paid day off after a long project
• Free lunch in the company cafeteria
• A week to work from home
The best way to figure out which non-salary related rewards motivate your employees is to get to know them. What gets them excited? Remember these things when it comes time to recognise and reward their efforts.
4. Recognition should be personalised.
You cannot motivate every employee with the same approach when it comes to employee recognition. Some employees may love being recognised in public, while others are mortified by the idea. This is where knowing your employees is helpful. Build relationships with your team members so you know their personalities, and the best ways to praise them.
5. Recognition should be everyone’s responsibility.
All of the responsibility for motivating employees cannot fall on leaders and managers. Employees must take it upon themselves to recognise their co-workers for a job well done too. Praise from both of these groups is necessary. Praise from executives lets employees know how their work contributes to the overall goals of the organisation. Coworkers, on the other hand, work closely with employees. Praise from them is important because they can acknowledge the daily sacrifices your employees make. Encourage this behaviour when mentoring and coaching your
team.
6. Recognition should be simple.
It is not a show. You don’t need to put too much planning or thought into how you recognise someone. The real work comes in keeping your eyes open for people who are working hard and accomplishing great things. After that, a department-wide e-mail or mention during a conference call will do the trick. Remember, recognition should come off as sincere and natural. Employee recognition is one of the most effective ways to motivate employees. Employees are motivated to work hard for companies that appreciate and acknowledge their contributions. Get to know your
employees to find out what rewards and types of praise motivate them. These actions are practiced by great leaders
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