On Top of Real Recognition: Top 10 Ways to Recognize on Employee Appreciation Day March 11, 2009
By Roy Saunderson
With Employee Appreciation Day on the first Friday in March, make sure you take time out this month to recognize your employees. While this should not be the only time you acknowledge your staff, to ignore it would be a big mistake. Here are some carefully thought out ideas for you to consider.
1. Send flowers, but only if… Don't finally acknowledge an assistant or support staff by sending flowers because of a designated day. Only send flowers if you have an established relationship of respect and recognition all year long.
2. Conduct some advance detective work. If you don’t know what an employee likes or dislikes become a recognition sleuth by observing a person's work environment and listening to conversations to discern great gift ideas.
3. Discover a person's passion in life. Support an individual and encourage them to do what they love. Find out a local course offering or subject matter expert coming to town related to their interest and purchase a registration for the event.
4. Find the latest book for them. For the readers among your employees find out their reading genre preferences and buy them a new book. Write a personal note inside or make time to send away and get the author to personalize it.
5. Music to one's ears and heart. Each of us has our favourite musician or performing artist. Match the music of your staff and give them a CD to add to their collection and let the music motivate even after hours.
6. Take them out to the ball game. For sports enthusiasts in your midst, whether participant or spectator, there are sports cards, clothing items, event tickets, posters, and books; you name it and they will help you score big with this person.
7. Food for thought. With unique tastes and food preferences, capitalize on these nuances in a special way. Show you care and add a special message of thanks—like, "Thanks, John" or "Mary" in icing on gourmet cookies or a home-made lasagna for them to enjoy with their family and skip cooking that night.
8. Take time out together. For large groups of employees it pays to stop and collectively thank everyone. Celebrate the successes and overcoming of challenges and enjoy some baked goods and juice or soft drinks in the office or close up early and treat to first round at the local watering hole.
9. Just ask. If you haven't done a recognition inventory ask each employee how they like to be recognized. Some want the limelight and others prefer being acknowledged in private. Give them recognition their way—not your way.
10. Write a handwritten note of thanks. It might sound corny but acknowledge them in writing apart from performance appraisals. Find a lovely blank note card or fancy note paper and write out 5 to 10 reasons why you appreciate all they do.
INCENTIVE online columnist Roy Saunderson, author of Giving the Real Recognition Way , is president of Recognition Management Institute (www.realrecognition.com) which consults with companies on improving employee motivation leading to increased productivity and profits. He can be reached at roySaunderson@realrecognition.com.
RSS
