Recognizing Employees
Employee Appreciation Makes a Big Difference in Morale
Few companies could argue that the biggest asset to their organization is the employees. Yet so many managers fail to show employees the appreciation and recognition they deserve. Employees are motivated by many different things but feeling appreciated ranks higher on the list than many managers recognize.
People naturally want to feel valued and appreciated, not only when contributions are significant, but anytime of the year. Verbal praise and recognition is easy and delivers a big impact. Likewise, small tokens of appreciation stand as reminders that individuals are indeed appreciated. These efforts made by managers can quickly improve employee morale.
Recognizing Employees - Worth the Effort
Managers should not take for granted that employees know they are appreciated. While individuals may know that they were a significant contributor in the last big project, receiving a compliment about the work, adds more to the accomplishment. Recognition and rewards offered should come from an employee’s manager. Recognition should be specific and should immediately follow the accomplishment being recognized.
Recognition and rewards for valued work does not have to be difficult or cost a lot of money. The more a manager practices the art of appreciation and recognition, the easier it will become. A personalized note about a specific accomplishment can be a quick and easy way to let a valued employee know their work was significant.
Employee Appreciation - Make it Personal
Companies should not turn the task of rewards and recognition over to HR or to an administrator. This will quickly make the program as meaningless as getting a birthday card with a stamped signature. Appreciation and recognition should be personal and sincere. Managers should look for opportunities to show appreciation to employees and even encourage employees to recognize the efforts of their co-workers.
Studies show that most employees do not feel appreciated at work and do not feel that their contributions are recognized. In fact, many managers do not feel comfortable recognizing employee’s efforts and some managers who want to do a better job with recognition simply do not know where to start. Starting small is a good first step and seeing the positive effects of the efforts may create a snowball effect.
Bob Nelson, a leading expert on employee recognition and author of the bestselling book, '1001 Ways to Reward Employees' (Workman Publishing, 2005), suggests, “Some of the best forms of recognition (personal or written praise, public recognition, positive voicemail or e-mail messages, etc.) require very little time to do.” In the article, “Personalizing Recognition," Nelson recommends establishing a specific place to display positive notes and encouraging everyone to post feedback about their co-workers.
Rewards and recognition can even become a more formal program within an organization. Implementing a rewards and recognition program can be easy or can start small and get bigger or more significant as time goes on. Ask employees for ideas and implement any of those ideas that are plausible.
Keeping employees happy should be a priority for every organization. Recognizing employees for their efforts and contributions can really increase morale and make a big impact on any organization. With little effort and no upfront costs, taking the time to recognize and appreciate employees for their contributions is something that managers can start right away with significant effects.
The Importance of employee Appreciation
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