Most people enjoy being recognized for their work, but unfortunately, accomplishments go unnoticed far too often in the workplace. Employers understand and believe in the value of doing this, yet they find themselves stumbling with the execution. In organizations where employee recognition is frequently practiced, organizations have a more positive culture and higher retention rates. If this is something you want to achieve for your company, follow these four steps:

1. Start with a plan

Often companies want to get started as soon as possible when it comes to recognizing their team, and the result can be a mixed bag. A lack of consistency can occur, causing employees to feel slighted or overlooked. Rewards might vary as well, causing someone to wonder why another person received something better. After a while, this approach will fail.

The first step toward employee recognition is knowing what you want to accomplish and establishing a plan. This thoughtful approach keeps you from diving in without thinking through everything and allows your system to be something that can last.

2. Create guidelines

Once you have a general idea of what you want to do, you need to get specific. Figure out what actions qualify for recognition and what the reward will be. Be sure you are looking at teams as a whole and not certain members. Simply acknowledging the top performer can cause everyone else to feel like their contributions meant nothing.

Your guidelines will come from what you believe to the best areas to benefit your company, including behaviors within your organization, accomplishments in job performance, and different ways of thinking or approaches that can positively impact everyone.

3. Inform your team

After you’ve decided what you want to do and how you want to do it, it’s time to roll out the recognition program to employees. This transparency will help them see what they can do to be recognized and keep the water cooler talk from speculation about why someone received a reward. Keeping them in the loop will motivate them and avoid any bitter feelings.

4. Begin the recognition process

Everyone is aware of the new plan, so it’s time to start! Once everything is in place, the most important thing to remember is timely and meaningful recognition. Waiting too long can diminish the impact of what you’re doing, so applaud the employee as close to the event as possible.

Hire the right staff to recognize

We want to help you find the right team who deserve positive recognition. When you choose to work with LaJoy Group, you’re selecting a team of people known for providing an unmatched service experience. We learn what you’re looking for and make sure we deliver.