3. TheWhitePaper*
As organizations continue to vie for and retain talented contributors, strategic em-
ployee recognition programs become an important part of the total work experi-
ence. Effective recognition programs encourage employees to give more discre-
tionary effort, thereby improving company performance.
We work with some of the world’s leading companies to Each year, we conduct a series of client workshops
build engaged, positive workplaces where employees to help you define your goals and the necessary
fully understand and share the company vision and steps to achieve them. We recommend best prac-
values. They know their work and extra efforts to help tices proven to deliver high ROI by our leading
achieve the vision will be recognized and appreciated. Global 2000 customers.
Globoforce’s ‘Top 10 Tips’ for Running Successful
Strategic Recognition Programs
1. The Tempo Starts at the Top
2. Establish Program Goals & Objectives
3. Reach as Many People as Possible as Often as Possible
4. Promote It or Perish
5. Offer a Great Choice of Rewards
6. Match Awards to Achievements
7. Ensure a Recognition Moment
8. Involve Program Participants – Invite Their Input
9. Call All Managers to Training
10. Establish Key Indicators of Success Early
4. TheWhitePaper*
1. The Tempo Starts at the Top
Senior-level validation of the program itself and of the
To effectively build a culture of appreciation, a stra-
in-house program management team is essential. A
tegic employee recognition program should be driv-
highprofile, senior-level executive must act as the
en by a core, in-house program management team
program champion, responsible for driving global
that encourages employees to make “recognition”
program awareness, validating the program goals
a part of their daily work life. This team manages
and supporting the implementation of the program.
the program globally and ensures company-wide
Likewise, local program champions should be iden-
consistency by setting program goals, objectives,
tified to validate the global program and drive the
processes and benchmarks in addition to defining
program objectives locally.
measurements of success.
2. Establish Program Goals and Objectives
ing the program. Any employee recognition program
Clear program guidelines are the foundation of every
should be grounded in the organization’s corporate
successful recognition program. The project man-
strategy, identifying key areas where employees can
agement team should establish three to four succinct
make a difference.
and easy-to-understand program goals that reflect
the organization’s overall objective for implement-
3. Reach as Many People as Possible as Often as Possible
people with smaller rewards, than rewarding few
Successful programs recognize contributors fre-
people, infrequently with larger rewards. This higher
quently, at all levels and across all geographic re-
frequency will help drive program visibility—a criti-
gions, for their genuine contributions to the orga-
cal component to creating a recognition culture, and
nization. The more people receiving awards, the
thereby increasing productivity and positive energy
greater the awareness that the company is engaged
in the workplace.
in recognizing and rewarding its people. Better re-
sults are guaranteed by frequently rewarding more
5. TheWhitePaper*
4. Promote it or Perish!
communications through all stages of its lifecycle to
The development of a comprehensive communi-
keep it active and effective. Program managers must
cations plan raises awareness of the program, in-
carefully select the most effective communications
creases participation, boosts performance, and most
channels for ensuring their program messages stand
importantly, helps to build an appreciation culture. In
out from all other corporate “noise.”
developing the plan, an organization must consider
the following objectives:
* Top-of-Mind Awareness: To reach all eligible pro-
“Implementation is really the primary differentiator
gram participants and make them aware of the
between employee reward programs at companies
new program
on America’s Most Admired Companies list and their
peers—communication, aligning reward programs
* Understanding of the Program: To reach all man-
with business priorities and operationalizing the pay
agers to inform and educate them about the pro-
for performance relationship.”
gram goals and processes.
- Hay Group research in conjunction with
Launching an employee recognition program is like Fortune magazine, March 2008
launching a new product – it requires continuous
5. Offer a Great Choice of Rewards
Successful programs are those that deliver both
An essential part of any program is making sure the
consistency and “meaning” on a global scale by
rewards are actually motivating and memorable to pro-
ensuring their program offers access to literally
gram participants. By offering the world’s largest reward
millions of different prize, gift and reward options
selection, global organizations can ensure that every one
across all 5 continents.
of their program participants will have a broad choice of
rewards that are culturally relevant and locally meaning-
ful to them - no matter where in the world they reside.
6. TheWhitePaper*
6. Match Awards to Achievements
Varying award levels help nominators decide on the
Effective recognition programs ensure consistency
recognition that is most appropriate for the degree of
by assessing behaviors and results deserving of rec-
contribution they observed. When establishing award
ognition, and then recommending the appropriate
levels against desired behaviors, remember to keep
award level. Organizations should therefore seek to
the number of levels simple, offering those that are
implement a program that provides positive rein-
most appropriate and consistent across the organi-
forcement for contributions that align with the com-
zation. Award values should be significantly different
pany’s overall goals and strategies.
in order to simplify the nominator’s choice.
7. Ensure a Recognition Moment
promote an employee recognition program. High-
In addition to delivering timely and meaningful rec-
lighting recent award winners in a corporate newslet-
ognition in the form of awards, companies should
ter or on a corporate intranet also ensures all people
also encourage managers to personally recognize
within an organization are aware of their colleagues
outstanding employees or team members at recogni-
being recognized.
tion events or team meetings to help personalize and
8. Involve Program Participants – Invite Their Input
or division boundaries. Program participation should
Employees should be recognized, by both their peers
be closely monitored and participants should be sur-
and managers, for their individual or team contribu-
veyed regularly to gauge levels of program satisfac-
tions toward achieving goals. The approach is one in
tion. The program management team should invite
the same – timely, personal and consistent. At any
feedback and suggestions for program improvement.
time, nominators should be able to nominate col-
leagues to receive awards, regardless of geographic
7. TheWhitePaper*
9. Call All Managers to Training!
enhancements to maintain interest and enthusiasm
Training is essential to achieving program success.
around a program. The program management team
All managers throughout the organization should
should review the program’s effectiveness on a regu-
be required to attend pre-launch training sessions,
lar basis and work to ensure the program is properly
which can be web based and explain the program
used within the organization.
to encourage their participation. Training presenta-
tions may also be used to communicate program
10. Establish Key Indicators of Success Early
A list of key indicators may include one or more of
Program success should be measured against the
the following examples:
program goals and objectives set at the onset of the
program. The program management team should
* Increase in overall performance or productivity of
develop two or three key indicators of program suc-
employees (team).
cess that tie directly to the overall program goals
and objectives. * Increase in job satisfaction/morale and employee
retention.
* Increased use of one common tool to run all em-
“Measurable process goals are critical to a success-
ployee reward and sales incentive programs, in-
ful global strategic recognition program. With the
creasing efficiencies and reducing overall costs.
appropriate goals and a program to measure the
outcome, you can begin to spot the frequency, ap-
* Increased sales or distribution.
propriateness and timeliness of recognition and the
levels of success against those goals. Globoforce
Timetables for reviewing the program against these
provides the mechanism making this possible.”
indicators should be decided early in the process
- Terry Cain prior to the program launch.
Vice President of Operational Excellence, Avnet
