Why Employee Recognition Matters
Most people love being business owners, until they don’t. Usually the “don’t” is related to some type of conflict or tension with an employee. Being an effective manager is an entirely different superpower than being an effective business owner. Some of the most common expressions of manager frustration are: “My employees are sooooo entitled”- “My employees do the bare minimum” - “I feel like a babysitter.”
At the root of many of these perceived employee problems is usually a lack of engagement. Engagement is the connection an employee feels to their job. You want engaged/connected employees- they perform better. Employees tend to feel less engagement with their work when they also feel undervalued. In the world of Human Resources, employee recognition can boost employee morale, productivity, and overall engagement.
What is employee recognition? It is acknowledging and appreciating your employees’ contributions, large and little. Recognition can take many forms: (1) Real Time Praise “this is great work”; (2) Hand Written Thank You Notes “you went above and beyond and I noticed”; (3) Awards - employee of the month; (4) Investing in Growth - professional development opportunities; (5) Celebrations - employee outings or parties for work anniversaries or milestones; (6) Gifts - gift cards or merchandise; and finally (7) Financial Incentives -bonuses or salary increases.
Rewarding your employees might seem counterintuitive (especially for the manager who feels like their employees are entitled), but the world of Human Resources provides substantial data demonstrating a direct correlation between consistent employee recognition efforts and increased employee engagement over time. Employee recognition shows your employees that you are paying attention to them and their work matters. Also, employees tend to go above and beyond when they see you paying attention.Things like praise, celebrations, and awards contribute to an overall more positive and productive work environment with hopefully less stress.
With the holidays afoot, this is the perfect time to practice some employee recognition magic. It doesn’t have to be costly. It just ought to be thoughtful. Meaning, if you take the time to write a card, be as specific as possible with your praise of their work. HR Pro Tip: By being specific, you are essentially providing feedback that helps reinforce positive behaviors.
In the interest of fairness, it is important that you are also consistent with recognition. So if you are going to recognize one employee during the holiday season, it is usually best to recognize all of your employees. Unfairness can create resentment.
If you are grumbling or feeling like employee recognition is a daunting task. Imagine your business with less tension and more productivity. Maybe also think of the notorious Ebenezer Scrooge and how he learned that giving not only benefits others, but it also nourishes our own spirit. Giving your employees praise could be the first step in the direction of a more fulfilling manager experience. If you need any help, employee recognition is one of my specialities.
