Your name is called. Someone is talking about you but you’re not paying attention because all eyes are on you as you disentangle yourself from your chair and scrunch past the people in your row. Hurrying up the aisle, you’re careful on the stairs to the stage, worried you’ll stumble and fall in front of all your co-workers. The lights up here are blinding. Someone hands you something that almost slips through your sweaty palms and the audience erupts into applause. Clearly, this is an important part of your life and a memory to be cherished for years to come.
Recently, I’ve been reading a lot about how different methods of employee recognition are more effective (and appreciated) based on each employee’s personality and personal preferences. The scenario above is one I’ve been part of numerous times throughout my life and while I personally have mostly worked through my petrifying fear of being in front of audiences (mostly thanks to mandatory speeches throughout grade school), public recognition is still the least effective and gratifying way I could be recognized and many of your employees probably feel the same way.
A more personalized approach to employee recognition awards such as a comment at a small team meeting, a personal note or even an email or eCard can have a much more profound impact when coming from someone whose opinion matters to the employee. Depending on the employee and his/her work environment, peer recognition may be even more effective than being noticed by a supervisor.
This is not to say that the pomp and flair of a formal presentation doesn’t work for anyone. There are certainly still people who would prefer to see their names in lights and receive their employee recognition award in public but it’s important to keep in mind that not all your employees are the same and they will respond better to some forms of recognition than others. Make sure your employee recognition program provides avenues to recognize your employees in a variety of different ways and ensure your employee recognition awards are as effective as possible.
What are your thoughts?
What sort of employee recognition award methods have you found most effective? Do you personally have a preferred way you like to be recognized? Do your employees? How have you gone about finding out?
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