The Key to Effective Employee Recognition

Successful managers regularly and proactively recognize team members by showing appreciation to them individually and as a group. William James, who many regard as the Father of American Psychology, once said, “the deepest hunger in human beings is the desire to be appreciated.” Here are some ways you can show appreciation to your employees:

Little surprises:

Surprise your employee by calling their spouse or significant other to give praise for a recent accomplishment. State you want the two of them to go out to dinner at their favorite restaurant on the company. Make sure to give a “use by” date so they’re more likely to take advantage of the gift. You could also invite the employee to an exclusive event with just the management team. This will make them feel honored and privileged.

Story telling:

Tell stories about situations in which the employee(s) or team achieved success or accomplished a goal. Keep a repository of these stories to bring up from time to time, not just once. These stories can also be useful during on-boarding of new employees.

Write it out:

Instead of the usual email, take some time to actually hand write thank you cards that show your genuine and sincere praise. This extra step will not go unnoticed!

Give extra responsibility:

Learn what motivates an employee and give them a special assignment that aligns with their motivations. Try to involve them in decision-making as much as possible to make them feel involved and connected to the greater success of the company.

Interested in learning more about ways you can show your employees appreciation? Give me a call, I'd be happy to help you implement this strategy within your organization.