RECOGNITION
The act of thanking your employees for their contributions is known as employee recognition. I don’t just mean high performance when I say ‘contributions.’ It could be for daily tasks, teamwork efforts, ideal behaviours, or simply the way they go about things.
Everyone enjoys being recognised for their efforts. It reaffirms that their efforts are valued and appreciated.
Recognizing employees entails doing so in a meaningful way. You’re letting them know that you’re aware of and grateful for their efforts. Employee morale will be boosted and a sense of belonging will be instilled at work as a result of this sincere act.
Employee retention, productivity, and engagement can all be boosted with recognition. You can unlock your employees’ full potential if you give them the recognition they deserve.
Authentic Employee recognition serves three purposes:
- It showcases that the individual has accomplished a goal.
When a person accomplishes a goal, they are elated and fulfilled. When others recognise their accomplishments, the thrill of achieving the goal is amplified. For an employee who has worked hard to achieve a goal, a simple “thank you” or “great work” can mean a lot.
- It emphasises the efforts of employees.
Employee recognition entails more than just high performance or goal attainment. It’s also about people going above and beyond their normal responsibilities. For example, an employee who stays late to assist another with their work. Recognizing such genuine efforts contributes to the development of a strong recognition culture.
- It encourages employees to act in ways that are consistent with the company’s values.
Recognition as a Basic Human Need
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs theory influenced this viewpoint. According to this theory, all humans are driven by certain basic needs. Maslow divides these needs into five categories, which are often depicted as a hierarchical pyramid.
Maslow’s theory can be used to analyse employee engagement levels.
From the bottom of the pyramid, the needs of an employee are:
- Physiological (Water, sleep, food, Mental health and physical health),
- Safety (Benefits, Salary, Job security)
- Love and belonging (social, friends, family, Team),
- Esteem (recognition ,respect from others, Importance) and,
- Self-actualization (Learning, Challenges, creativity)
Employees attempt to meet their basic survival needs first. They can’t function unless their physical and mental health are in good shape. Following that, they consider job security, pay, and benefits. However, once these are in place, they are designed to meet the next level of need: belonging and esteem.
Both of these factors have a significant impact on our human selves at work. These two levels of need are met by employee recognition.
Employees seek social acceptance in order to feel like they belong with their coworkers. They also want to be valued, respected, and acknowledged. When people are praised for their efforts, it encourages them to keep working hard.
They strive for self-actualization once they feel accepted and recognized. This is a level that encourages learning and creativity.
Consequences of Recognition
- Job satisfaction: Increases as a result of various forms of recognition, which boosts employee morale and motivation.
- Productivity: It increases productivity.Employees take ownership of their work and go above and beyond their assigned responsibilities to improve it. It has been proven that employees who are recognized and appreciated perform better than those who are not.
- Company’s Value:Ultimately, a company’s value is increased.
How can I make my work more visible and appreciated? Here are some tips:
- One can communicate with their manager about the progress of their work- It is critical to communicate with your manager about the progress of your work; otherwise, most of your work will go unnoticed because the outcome has not been seen. It’s time to make your efforts unnoticeable!
- Invite feedback and inquire about how to deal with challenges- When you’re stuck, pay attention to feedback and inquire about alternatives.
- Be a team player– If you are difficult to be around, your work on your assigned duties will go unnoticed. Be someone who makes it simple for others to be around you.