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On Top of Real Recognition: Top 10 Ways to Get Your Groove Back
October 06, 2009
By Roy Saunderson
Summer is over and so are its distractions: vacations, the beach, the pool. Unfortunately, summer distractions are replaced with back-to-school concerns, Halloween for the kids, having enough money for the holiday season, etc. The bottom line is that no matter the season, employees always have something that can shift their attention and energy levels away from the workplace. Here are the top 10 ways recognition can grab some of that attention back.
1. Write a handwritten note of thanks. Become the new distraction by reminding employees how important their roles are to the organization, separate from formal performance appraisals. Find a blank-note card or fancy note paper and write out three to five reasons why you appreciate all they do.
2. Motivate by mobilizing. If you haven’t done a recognition “inventory” ask each employee how he or she likes to be recognized. Some want the limelight and others prefer being acknowledged in private. Let them help decide how appreciation should be addressed upon reaching goals.
3. Offer flexible schedules. If you have employees who are stressing over getting to the store on time to buy Halloween costume fabric or workers who are worried about rush-hour traffic because of parent-teacher conferences, then suggest they leave early and take a shorter lunch or stay late the next day. Offering to accommodate will promote a positive attitude and often drive up productivity.
4. Expand communications. In addition to your ongoing e-mails, newsletters, and company-wide conference calls on company news, tell every manager to collect information on employees so they can announce any personal accomplishments, from their kids’ Little League wins to graduate school admissions. It will temper the distraction and give a boost to employee morale.
5. Milestones matter. Whether it's workplace anniversaries or birthdays, take time out to honor each employee. A card signed by everyone, home-baked treats, or a handshake by the CEO who took time to visit the cubicle is clear demonstration that the employee is important.
6. Go positive. Eliminate saying negatives that tax the physical and psychological well-being of your people. Be realistic, yes, but make sure they are motivated to perform because your company is worth their commitment.
7. Give day-to-day recognition. If it isn't every day, then it isn't. Make sure your managers understand why it is essential to express employee appreciation on a continuous basis.
8. Train managers in thanks. Saying "thanks for a job well done" should be easy but for some it is very hard to express. To keep your employees focused on you rather than distractions in their lives, train your managers. Whether you have a consultant visit you or send your managers out to a certification program, it is essential that managers learn how to motivate through expressing thanks.
9. Be compassionate. If your employees are clearly on edge, ask them about it. When your staff members know you care, they will move mountains in productivity to show they care about you.
10. Discuss the distractions. If your employees are worried about a hurricane in a city with relatives, news of a famous person who may be ill, a football score...tell them! Make it clear that you will send out e-mail alerts or announcements of any headlines that are concerning them.
Incentive online columnist Roy Saunderson is author of Giving the Real Recognition Way and president of the Recognition Management Institute, www.realrecognition.com, which consults companies on improving employee motivation that leads to increased productivity and profits. He can be reached at roysaunderson@realrecognition.com.
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