Showing your employees that you appreciate a job well done builds positive behaviours and confidence in addition to increasing productivity at work. Employee recognition is not about rewards, “points” or financial incentives. Rather, it’s about showing your employees that you appreciate their hard work. Here are some ideas for effective recognition of your team.
- Report good moves
Take advantage of team meetings to highlight the achievements of an employee. Explain why the employee stood out. The more specific you are, the more recognition will be appreciated!
- Peer recognition
Appreciation by colleagues is just as important as appreciation by managers. Research has shown that 76% of employees find peer recognition extremely motivating. Encourage your employees to recognize the successes and contributions of a colleague.
Get to know them as people: Expressing your interest in the lives of your employees outside of work is a great way to build your relationship and show that you care. It also comes with the added benefit of learning to know what they need to be successful at their job. Doing things that will make a difference in the lives of your employees is essential, and the best way to do this is to give them the confidence that they know they have a strong support system at work. It can be as simple as asking, “Is there something I can do for you?”.
- Surprise
Why not take your team by surprise by allowing them to leave at 2 p.m. rather than the usual 5 p.m. on a hot summer day? Your employees will thank you and be even more productive when they return the next day!
- Take part in the decision
Invite your employees to decide together on the next project they will take on. This will illustrate your confidence in them and the importance you place on their career development.
- Hackathon
Allow your employees to work on a special project one afternoon. Give them the choice of working in groups or individually and then ask them to present their project the following week. This will help increase the productivity of your team.
- Social recognition
Why not wink at your employees on your organization’s social media when they are involved in a good cause or when they accomplish something important in their personal life? They will be grateful to you! When your employees exceed their goals and go above and beyond to accomplish their tasks, recognize it. It is important to remind them that their efforts do not go unnoticed. Giving verbal comments and words of encouragement is very important to keep them engaged. It can be done by using challenge coins for employee recognition. Another effective way to do this is by giving meaningful thank you cards to employees. By showing your sincere gratitude and appreciation, your employees will be even happier.
- The ratio of positive v/s constructive feedback
In order to help employees improve their skills, feedback is essential. Do you prioritize positive reinforcement or constructive criticism? A study reported by the Harvard Business Review established the importance of increasing the ratio of positive feedback to constructive feedback in order to increase team performance.
