Remember that feeling you experienced when you were awarded a gold star in school for a job well done? Even though we’re older now and the stakes are higher than learning the ABCs, that “gold star” feeling still can be a powerful motivator. Employees who believe that their employers recognize and value their contributions generally are more satisfied at work,
which is why most organizations today have employee recognition programs in place. On the following slides, we present some creative yet simple ideas for business owners and managers to give employees that “gold star” feeling in recognition of their efforts.
2. Remember that feeling you experienced when you were awarded a gold star in school for
a job well done? Even though we’re older now and the stakes are higher than learning the
ABCs, that “gold star” feeling still can be a powerful motivator. Employees who believe that
their employers recognize and value their contributions generally are more satisfied at work,
which is why most organizations today have employee recognition programs in place. On the
following slides, we present some creative yet simple ideas for business owners and managers
to give employees that “gold star” feeling in recognition of their efforts.
INTRODUCTION
3. Presenting a letter to an employee recognizing his or her good work is a simple but effective
way to show in a personal manner that you value that employee’s contributions.
WRITE A LETTER
4. Post pictures of employees on a wall or on your company’s website to honor
their hard work.
WALL OF FAME
5. Leave a candy bar, gift card or other token of appreciation on an employee’s desk
with a note thanking him or her.
SURPRISE TREATS
6. Give tickets to employees for going above and beyond, with those tickets redeemable
for time off, a special lunch or other prizes.
PRIZE TICKETS
7. Honoring the employee of the month with his or her own parking space is an easy way to
make employees feel special.
SPECIAL PARKING
8. Use your company’s Twitter or Facebook page to publicly honor employees
who do a great job.
SOCIAL MEDIA
9. You can reward employees who do a good job by allowing them to work off site, if possible.
WORKING OFF SITE
10. Honor an employee of the week or month with a trophy that he or she can keep at his or her
desk until a new winner is crowned.
TROPHIES
11. Allowing employees to nominate their peers for special recognition can help everyone
feel appreciated.
PEER RECOGNITION
12. You can mark the completion of a big project or other significant team achievement with a
surprise celebration.
SURPRISE PARTIES
13. When you hear someone say something positive about another employee, pass it along
to that employee.
SHARING PRAISE
14. Taking the time to learn more about your employees’ outside interests and families can
make them feel more valued.
MAKE IT PERSONAL
15. Calling an employee into your office to offer a quick nod to his or her achievement can be
an effective way to boost morale.
QUICK MEETINGS
16. When employees know that you’re available to listen to their concerns at any time,
they can feel better about their situations.
OPEN-DOOR POLICY
17. Giving staff members an extra-long lunch break or a half-day after completing a big
project can help them feel refreshed.
OFFER LONGER BREAKS
18. Arrange regular meetings during which employees can show off their accomplishments
to management. This can boost their engagement.
SHARE MORE OFTEN
19. A simple handwritten thank you note can go a long way toward helping employees feel
more valuable.
LEAVE A NOTE
20. Scheduling an official staff recognition day with team-building exercises and an
awards ceremony can provide a welcome break for employees.
DAY OF RECOGNITION
21. Keep a journal of all the times you notice employees going above and beyond, and show
it off at the end of the month.
BOOKKEEPING
22. When you know more about your employees’ interests, you can reward them with
personalized gifts or honors.
PERSONALIZED RECOGNITION
23. Even though your employees are being compensated for their work, going the extra mile to
recognize their unique and valuable contributions can be a powerful way to make them feel
appreciated. These and other simple and affordable ideas demonstrate that you don’t have to
break the bank to show your staff that you care.
CONCLUSION
