How to Rock Your Employee's Day With Recognition!

Overhearing a conversation between a young dad and his daughter at the grocery store the other day was enough to boost my spirits, even though I wasn't directly involved. As the two shopped, there was a constant flood of praise coming from the dad, even when the daughter (who must have been about three years old) was doing the wrong thing. Praise for doing the wrong thing? Well played, dad. It went something like this:

Dad: "Great job pushing the cart, Emily."

Dad: "Good work picking out that cereal. Now put it back on the shelf."

Notice the same amount of praise was given for both a "job well done" and a "missed mark." Thinking about work environments, I realized how well this works with an employer / employee relationship. Have we ever gotten past the need to be recognized for our efforts? Absolutely not. A nod from the top is always welcome. In fact, it gives us an emotional boost that often reignites our motivation toward a particular task or project. Recognition is a key component of a healthy work atmosphere, and it shouldn't be reserved for a job done 100% correctly. As an employer or business owner, you can certainly increase the positivity vibe in the workplace by recognizing ALL effort, --just like the grocery store dad.

How to Rock Your Employees Day With Recognition

People crave positive recognition. If you create an atmosphere where appreciation and recognition are part of the employee nurturing process, you're likely to be surprised with the creative, proactive and positive attitudes that are cultivated.

But what about financial rewards? Aren't they better? A bonus is amazing, don't get me wrong, but it's not the equivalent of recognition. We have a human need to be appreciated for extra efforts and the lack of recognition can literally knock the wind out of our sails (as well as your sales).

Here's how to rock the recognition factor:

• Be Timely - Catch people doing exemplary work and acknowledge them right then and there. "Hey John, Great job clearing out all those old files. I know that took a lot of time and effort. I really appreciate it!'

• Tied to a Goal – Recognition is most effective when it is attached to an important company goal that benefits everyone. This lets the employee know how valuable he or she is. Random affirmations are much less meaningful. "You put in the time and you landed that big contract, Sarah! I bet it feels good, doesn't it! We're so proud to have you on our team!"

• Effort - Remember the dad in the grocery store? He recognized the effort even if the final goal was a bit off (the cereal). Recognition and affirmation put an employee in the right state of mind to learn. "Joe, I see you went ahead and arranged all the Dropbox files according to department. Great forward thinking! It might work better if we call a training meeting before making changes next time, but keep those proactive ideas coming! You're amazing!"

• Be Authentic - Sending out a personal thank you email to an employee is awesome. Having that employee find out that every single person in the department received the exact same letter is not awesome. A couple of kind words in passing are much more appreciated than an email that literally becomes meaningless once it is discovered that it was automated. Remember, the human element is key. It's no different than receiving a gift from your dad that his secretary picked out and mailed. Somewhere along the way, it loses its meaning. Always be authentic.

Here at HH Staffing services, we do our best to cultivate an atmosphere of appreciation and recognition, --and the positivity is contagious! If you're looking for a temp to perm or temporary employee in the Sarasota, Bradenton, Orlando or Tampa area, give our offices a call. We have the best employees waiting to make a positive connection with you!