The Importance of Intentional Recognition in the Workplace

It’s well known that many employees do wonderful things for their company but are not always recognized for all the hard work. Whether due to multiple projects, unexpected hurdles, or a lapse in attention, leadership can overlook the amazing contributions that employees are making every day. Valuing effort put forth by employees is crucial, not only to keep track of performance, but to show your appreciation for your team’s support for you and the organization.

It's a common bias to reward behavior that we see as similar to our own. This is called the "similarity bias." We tend to feel more comfortable with people who are like us and may overlook those who are different. This bias can lead to a manager recognizing, and rewarding certain behaviors, while overlooking the contributions of others.

With that said, we need to be aware of our own biases to try to value and recognize all types of contributions. This can include introducing diverse perspectives, providing opportunities for those of all working styles, and creating a more inclusive culture. By valuing and recognizing everyone’s contributions, you can build a happier and more resilient and successful team.

Being intentional with how we reward behaviour fosters an environment that pushes and supports everyone to be their best. When looking to provide a reward, be intentional.

Set clear expectations: Employees are more likely to feel recognized and valued when they know exactly what is expected of them. Make sure you set specific, clear, and achievable goals and expectations for your team members. This includes you demonstrating the type of behaviour you want to see. Practice what you preach!

Provide regular feedback: Offer regular feedback and recognition to your employees, however that looks for your team. Let them know when they are doing well and offer constructive feedback when necessary.

Celebrate successes: Celebrate milestones, achievements, and successes. This could include a team lunch, an awards ceremony, or a shout-out in a team meeting. Recognize employees for specific achievements or behaviours, rather than generic compliments. This shows that you are paying attention and value their contributions. Do this as close to the time of the achievement as possible, to reinforce the behaviour and maintain motivation.

Employees won’t feel the love unless we show them. So, what are some ways that leaders can show their team members that they’re doing well?

Express gratitude: A simple thank you can go a long way in showing that you appreciate their efforts and hard work. Doing this in front of peers, other teams, or in larger company settings can show that you are not only able to recognize their work within the team, but that the rest of the company should be aware of what they as a contributor bring to the company too.

Provide tangible rewards: There are many ways to show you care. Consider offering tangible rewards such as gift cards, bonuses, or additional vacation days to show your appreciation. Many companies will provide managers with a discretionary budget or the ability to provide employees small amounts of additional time off. Tailor these rewards to the needs, wants, and interests of your team members to show you care.

In a previous role, I used to do a “high five” award. In this quarterly award, I had the team pick someone, so each person would send me a message to nominate someone else on the team that they thought did a great job in any way! Each person had to provide a few sentences on who they are nominating and why. Once all the nominations and explanations came in, I would do a tally and most voted on person would win. I would then read out a couple of the paragraphs to the team for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placed team members, and provided the winner with a gift card of their choice. It was something my team really appreciated, and meant everyone was trying their best, which was not only good for the team, but the company too. And it was so much fun!

Other companies have their own unique rewards programs too. LinkedIn has a program called "InDay," where employees can take one Friday each month to work on personal projects, attend training, or volunteer.

These unique programs show that employee recognition doesn't have be as traditional as bonuses or promotions. By being creative and innovative, companies can find ways to recognize and reward their employees in ways that are meaningful and engaging. Recognizing employees is such an important part of the working culture to boost morale and build a positive working environment to increase performance.