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When employees feel valued at work, it increases engagement, productivity, and even company loyalty. There is one caveat, however. In order to be successful, recognition has to be done properly and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach you can take. Here are a few ways to make sure that your approach to recognition resonates with your employees:
Recognize employees in the way that they prefer to be recognized.
It’s not just about giving recognition, it’s about how it’s given. What works for one person may not work for another. Show your employees that you truly care by tailoring the way you recognize them to the way they like to be recognized. It’s a small gesture, but one that produces excellent results.
To identify the best way to recognize an employee, think about their style of working and what motivates them. While flashy public recognition might work for an employee who’s more extroverted and can always be found chatting with their team, that type of recognition could feel overwhelming for a quieter employee who prefers to keep to themselves. When in doubt, you can always ask the employee how they feel about recognition during a one-on-one chat.
Be sincere.
Employees can spot insincere recognition from miles away regardless of if it’s delivered face to face, on Zoom, or in an email. An example of insincere recognition is a generic email that says little more than ‘thanks for doing a great job!’ or is clearly just a template where a manager filled in someone’s name. These messages, while well-intentioned, end up falling flat and can sometimes do more harm than good. Insincere recognition can actually make employees feel even less seen and less valued.
Instead, take the time to craft a proper message. Reference something specific the employee has done and celebrate that specifically. The recognition can come in the form of a message, a gift card, a catered lunch, or whatever you think would resonate the most with that employee or team.
Make it personal.
Nothing beats a truly personalized recognition, as it shows employees that their work is not going unnoticed. A handwritten note (which can be mailed or scanned and emailed if your company is working remotely) is one the most genuine ways to show an employee that you as a leader see their hard work and recognize their success and achievements.
Don’t just recognize achievements, recognize efforts as well.
An employee who goes above and beyond by jumping into a project to help it get completed on time or who frequently volunteers to take on stretch assignments deserves recognition for their hard work and dedication to the job. This is actually the most valuable type of feedback, as it will keep the employee motivated to keep doing what they’re doing. Without recognition, they could end up feeling frustrated that their efforts are going unnoticed and therefore stop taking on extra work or going the extra mile on a project.
