Recognition

Recognition ImageResearch has shown that employees respond positively when they’re recognized by their managers for a job well done—sounds like a no-brainer, right? Well, you’d be surprised by how many companies still overlook the power of this low-cost, high-return, easy-to-use strategy. It’s recognition that propels employees to perform at increasingly higher levels and improves overall office morale. Furthermore, in addition to driving business results, recognition also changes your employee culture by encouraging loyalty, engagement, and enthusiasm for the job.

A culture of recognition exists in organizations that notice people doing the right things in the right way. In these organizations:

  • Recognition is a corporate value, operating at every level.
  • Recognition acts as a form of feedback.
  • Recognition happens informally and formally.
  • Employees who improve are rewarded, not just top performers.
  • Reward programs are customized. Employees choose rewards that are meaningful to them.
  • Best Practices—behaviors and activities that get results—are identified, cloned, and rewarded.

In a culture of recognition, just any kind of recognition won’t do. The most effective recognition rewards the right behaviors, right away. Best Practices are well-defined, credible standards that align with and support corporate goals—or in other words—Best Practices are those behaviors and activities exhibited by your top performers. The goal of recognizing these Best Practices is to turn them into Common Practices that extend from your top performers all the way down to your bottom line.