Often when I am delivering leadership and management training workshops or coaching business owners, the topic of employee recognition usually comes up. When some leaders hear the suggestion that it is always good to show appreciation to your employees some respond, “I don’t care how they feel about their work. It’s their job. I’m not a cheerleader and it’s not my responsibility to make them happy — I’m here to make sure things get done.” Others were less direct, but this message comes across pretty strong. Some of you may feel the same way.
APPRECIATION IMPACTS THE BOTTOM LINE
However, there are proven benefits that are a direct result tied to recognition. While communicating appreciation to team members does increase positive feelings across the workforce, ultimately, running a business, professional practice or non-profit organization is about serving your clients / patients / constituents well and doing so effectively. Whether you work for a for-profit or not-for-profit organization, there are budgetary constraints and goals to achieve.
Helping businesses and organizations like yours to function well takes forethought, planning, fast implementation, monitoring results, and making necessary adjustments along the way. If you are a contractor building a house, you have to have the right tools and equipment do the job, the parts need to work together efficiently, and you have to be able to deal with the challenges of bad weather, supply shortages, and friction that comes from everyone working together closely.
We know, however, that when team members truly feel valued and appreciated, good things happen:
- Tardiness decreases
- People call in sick less often
- Less conflict occurs over petty issues
- Policies and procedures are followed more regularly
- People are less irritable
- Customer complaints decrease
- Turnover decreases (the #1 non-productive cost to any business)
- Productivity improves
- Profitability rises
Now do you see the importance of your staff feeling recognized and appreciated? Here are six proven methods for improving the delivery of employee recognition.
IMPROVING RECOGNITION
1. Identify Employee Preferences – Get to know your employees to understand what they like and don’t like. For example, some like public recognition, while others prefer to be recognized privately. Always ask them.
2. Make Informal Recognition a Habit – Employees often tell me the recognition they most want to be told are, “Thank you” or “Great job!”, or “I appreciate what you do.” Be more visible, walk around your business, be available, catch people doing it right and if you see something say something.
3. Communicate Success – When face-to-face communication is not possible, use email, text messages, voicemail or post comments on communication boards. Be creative in communicating and celebrating success.
4. Set Clear Criteria or Policies for Formal Recognition Programs. Give everyone an opportunity to be recognized. Especially the back of the house employees. Don’t make your formal recognition a popularity contest or who hasn’t earned it yet.
5. Create Opportunities for Contact with Higher Level Managers In Your Business or Organization- Make it a privilege to have an opportunity to meet with, have coffee or lunch with a higher executive in the organization. This is a powerful form of strategic recognition.
6. Use Training Opportunities as a Form of Recognition – This has double value. Employees get recognized and develop the skills needed for career growth as well.
Simply put, recognition done the right way will have your employees work harder, perform better, stay longer and partner with you to help achieve your business goals. Now that would be “MAGICAL”!
Need help building a culture around recognition or would like to know more about John’s affordable training and coaching programs? Just imagine being coached or your staff trained by a former Disney leader for your team to give them the tools to make your business or organization more successful today! Schedule a FREE 45 Minute Discovery Strategy Session call with John today. It just might be the best and most productive 45 minute investment in your business. No Fluff and Nothing For Sale! Just pure help. Do it today by clicking on this link: https://go.oncehub.com/DiscoverySessionCall
John Formica is America’s and Australia’s Customer Experience Coach, team culture experience expert, keynote speaker, and Top 10 Global Thought Leader and Influencer on Customer Loyalty. For information on customer experience programs, leadership training, team culture, business growth, how to find and hire great people and tailored training programs just for you or to book John to speak at your next event, contact 704-965-4090 or visit our website at JohnFormica.com.