Don’t underestimate the importance of team recognition, but how do you recognize your team and show appreciation? The following tips will help you do that.
- Evaluate Whether Your Employees Feel Valued
- Highlight What You Value, Not Just Accomplishments
- Recognize Employees Proactively
- Be Specific in Your Recognition
- Deliver Recognition Promptly
Ways to Show Employee Recognition
Savvy small businesses offer awards, incentives, or other forms of compensation. Remember that while some employees prefer cash incentives, others like non-cash gifts better. Ask your team if you are unsure what type of recognition they would appreciate the most.
There are many ways to recognize your employees. It can be as simple as praising your team for their skills or accomplishing tough tasks. Even listening to your team can be a good way to show appreciation. Make time for feedback and recognition via regular check-ins with your team. This will let your employees know that you value their opinions.
55% of Employees cite lack of recognition as the primary reason for switching jobs
Evaluate Whether Your Employees Feel Valued
Before you get too far into planning employee recognition, get a baseline of where you stand. The best way to do this is directly to ask employees if they feel valued. Surveys and one-on-one meetings are both good ideas. Remember, though; you are most likely to get honest feedback if the
answers are anonymous.
You may think you are doing well, but consider the 52.5% of employees would like to receive more recognition from their immediate management. And 41% of them want more recognition from their coworkers.
Highlight What You Value, Not Just Accomplishments
Yes, you can recognize the concrete accomplishments that your team members have achieved. But the most effective recognition will focus on the things you value about them. This will feel more personal than just acknowledging accomplishments or milestones.
Recognize Employees Proactively
The best boost to morale and to ensure employees truly feel valued is to show your appreciation on a regular basis without an ulterior motive. Don’t just praise employees because you want something or because they did a specific task well. Of course, you can praise them for their achievements. But make it a point to show appreciation for their daily efforts.
If your praises are not prompted by measurable goals, the recognition seems much more genuine. Employees will take your praises to heart.
Recognize Behaviors You Hope to Encourage
Deciding what type of praise to give your employees is just as important as providing any at all. You want to focus on the recognition of behaviors you hope to encourage. This is a simple yet effective way of giving your team feedback.  Recognition lets them know that they are doing the right things, so they can continue to do them.
Be Specific in Your Recognition
When recognizing the accomplishments of your team, be as specific as possible. This shows that you are paying close attention to your team and encourages them to continue their efforts.
Deliver Recognition Promptly
In the cases where you recognize your team for a specific accomplishment, do so promptly. Don’t wait months to recognize them, as this will seem less sincere. It also won’t encourage the behavior as much.
Bottom Line
Team recognition helps your employees feel valued. This, in turn, increases their engagement, productivity, and satisfaction. That translates into improved customer experience, higher profits, and being better equipped to attract and retain talent — all critical issues for a small business. Remember to provide recognition for major wins and smaller achievements, with methods of recognition ranging from awards, incentives, and simple thank-yous.
Sources:
https://hbr.org/2019/11/why-employees-need-both-recognition-and-appreciation
https://www.greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/creating-a-culture-of-recognition
https://www.quantumworkplace.com/future-of-work/importance-of-employee-recognition
https://topworkplaces.com/employee-recognition-benefits/
