Recognizing Excellence (#17)

In the chaos of a crisis, it is often hard to remember to recognize members of your team for the amazing work they are doing. In a pre-coronavirus study, 80% of employees stated that they feel motivated to work harder when they felt appreciated for their work. However, over three quarters of all employees feel undervalued because of a lack of recognition and appreciation. Although it is simple, when was the last time you recognized members of your team for the great work they are doing?

The Army had a variety of ways to recognize outstanding performance such as a ribbon to wear on your uniform, a challenge coin, a certificate, or a hand written note.

Here are some ideas you might try:

• Have you used part of your weekly email or meeting to recognize outstanding performance?

• Have you sent a hand written note to one of your team? The United States Postal Service is still delivering (and needs your help to stay open). I am a big believer in the hand written note. It only costs you your time and a stamp, yet it is more powerful and more memorable than a lot of other recognition tools. Send a handwritten note today to one of your team.

• Have you given a top performer a day off?

• Have you given an outstanding employee company swag, like a polo with a logo?

• Especially for a team member who is working from home, an Amazon gift card would be appreciated.

In short, remember to recognize the members of your team for their amazing contributions during these challenging times. And look for creative ways to do it — if you have a different one than the ones I shared, post it in the comments.