You’ll see immediate results when you start recognising your employees the right way. HRD shares tips
Appreciation changes everything. Research has proven when employees are appreciated and recognised for their great work, they become more loyal, committed, and engaged. But you don’t have to trust the research, see for yourself. Check out our appreciation best practices checklist below.
It’s an easy tool to make sure you’re valuing the difference people make day in and day out; year-to-year. If you start appreciating your employees the right way, you’ll see immediate results. Whether you notice your peers’ everyday efforts, reward the results of those who go above and beyond, or celebrate specific career achievements, it’s important to keep these tips in mind:
Appreciate frequently. Research shows that employees want some form of recognition every seven days.
Remember the power of the ‘Thank You’ note. Taking the time to write a note of thanks has lasting impact.
Make it timely. Hold the appreciation moment as close to the event that you’re recognising as possible. If the recognition is not timely, the appreciation starts to lose its value.
Be specific. General praise is rarely motivating. Spell it out by telling them precisely what they did to earn your appreciation and why. Go into detail of the great work that’s been done. Describe how your team and even the organization benefits from their specific contributions.
Recognise unique qualities and make it personal. Carry around a list of your team members and after conversations with them, write down information that’s significant about each person. Over time, you’ll create a “crib sheet” with key information for every individual.
Then, when recognising team members, you’ll be able to add a personal anecdote or story to make the presentation particularly powerful.
Share a story. Highlight attributes that demonstrate the difference the person has made. Storytelling is a powerful way to illustrate how they live the company’s values.
Invite others to speak. Get co-workers and senior leaders to participate in the recognition, but don’t stop there. If the recognition celebrates a career achievement, such as 10 years of service or more, be sure to invite family and friends as well.
Prepare your remarks. Take the time to pull together your thoughts for a meaningful celebration. Visit websites that offer eCards, printable certificates, presentation tips, and more.
Extend the appreciation experience. Once the celebration is over, you want the impact of the experience to live on. Record the event, giving the employee a keepsake to save and share with family and friends. During the presentation itself, present a keepsake certificate and award to serve as a valuable reminder of the day.
