A creative employee recognition program is a powerful tool for building loyalty, but it can also be challenging to implement. Most companies often have special requirements and unique needs that may not be easily met by the traditional approaches to this process. You must get creative with your program so you can recognize your employees in ways they’ll love and won’t forget. Here are few employee recognition examples for you to note.
Why employee recognition is essential
You’ve probably heard it before: employee recognition is important. But with so many things vying for your attention, it can be easy to fall into the habit of taking your employees for granted. It’s easy to think that as long as you’re paying them well and keeping their basic needs met, you’ve done enough to ensure a positive workplace culture.
But recognition isn’t just a nice thing to do—it’s an essential tool in helping recruiters create sustainable organizations that attract and retain top talent. Recognition rewards performance, and encourages employees to deliver more of what an organization values, which helps keep the business running smoothly, and improves morale and engagement levels throughout your team. It also increases retentio), builds trust between colleagues and supervisors alike, makes people feel valued—and best of all? It feels good. Everyone wants validation for their contributions; when you give it out generously at work without expecting anything in return, everyone wins.
Two types of recognition
Recognition can take many forms, including verbal and non-verbal. Verbal recognition is when you give someone an actual “thank you” and thank them for doing something. This can be done in person or via email, but it should be done promptly and not forgotten. Non-verbal recognition is more subtle—you don’t have to say anything at all. You simply acknowledge their work by giving them a thumbs up or smile or pat on the back when they get back from lunch.
The best thing about recognition is that it doesn’t require any special skills or training beyond being human with basic social skills. Keep in mind that each employee will respond differently depending on their personality type; some employees prefer verbal recognition while others prefer non-verbal recognition.
How do you recognize employees creatively?
Recognizing employees creatively is a great way to show your appreciation. It can be done in so many ways and many different forms. The key is to make sure that your recognition is personal, timely, meaningful, specific, and repeatable.
Here’s what you should keep in mind:
- Personalize employee recognition
- Make it timely
- Keep it meaningful
- Make sure it’s specific and repeatable
Employee recognition examples
Recognition is a powerful tool for your company, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are some ways you can show your employees how much you appreciate them:
- A handwritten note of thanks from the CEO or another executive leader.
- A public shout-out at an all-hands meeting.
- A sweet treat on their desk one afternoon (maybe something in their favorite flavor).
Conclusion
These creative recognition examples above are just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to be a top company, it’s important to think outside the box and come up with innovative ways to recognize your team members. The most important thing is to get started today because there is no better time than now.
