What do you do when faced with a team of professionals who consistently exceed targets, yet you find team morale slipping? Meetings are lackluster, with innovation on the back burner. So, what is the secret ingredient that will bring the flavor back? Simple, all that is needed is a healthy dose of recognition.
Being simple, recognition is often overlooked, but when used structurally with consistency, it is a powerful tool to bring positivity to the workplace. Acknowledging the team’s hard work boosts employee morale, increases job satisfaction, and makes employees go that extra mile, resulting in better productivity.
For employee recognition to be efficient and effective, leaders and managers should remember to:
- Personalize recognition, as specific contributions that are acknowledged, hold more value to employees than generic ‘thank yous’. You can also mention the impact of the employee’s contributions, as who doesn’t like seeing positive results?
- Don’t delay appreciation; stale recognition isn’t as effective as spontaneous appreciation, so don’t wait for the following annual review to say a good word.
- Employ different types of appreciation and alternate between public recognition (company newsletters, team meetings, company messenger) and private recognition (handwritten notes, one-to-one meetings).
- Reward employees through gift cards or extra time off, as just writing or saying appreciative comments is not enough.
- Be a mentor by emulating and hand-holding your team to reach their goals and leading by example. Publicly acknowledge the efforts of your team so that they remain motivated.
Thus, recognizing isn’t enough; how it is done adds to its effectiveness. But why should leaders and managers spend time and funds recognizing employee behavior? The role of leaders and managers is to get the most out of their team, and due to this, recognizing employee behavior matters so that the motivation to meet targets continues.
Why Recognizing Employee Behavior Matters
While most employers feel that the salary alone should be enough for their employees – it isn’t.
“Well-recognized employees are 45% less likely to have turned over after two years”
Gallup, Employee Recognition Study
Through proper (consistent and structured) recognition, it is possible to see a ripple effect in engagement, motivation, and retention.
By valuing and appreciating employees, their level of engagement increases and loyalty increases. This leads to greater job satisfaction and willingness to make more effort. Recognition is a great morale booster, too, and reduces turnover rates, as employees are less likely to leave a job for which they are appreciated.
Furthermore, while most formal recognition focuses on outcomes, behaviors also need to be recognized to reinforce positive behavior. This ensures that a broader range of contributions are appreciated. Positive employee behavior, like taking the initiative, mentorship, problem-solving, and collaboration, deserves further recognition to emulate this behavior.
Recognition has a psychological effect, too, as dopamine is released, increasing feelings of emotional well-being. Through rewards, employees are encouraged to engage in positive behavior, and further rewards increase confidence and boost morale while fostering a sense of accomplishment.
11 Employee Behaviors That Deserve Recognition
Everyone talks about wanting to see results, but people forget that outcomes result from consistent behaviors. Thus, managers and leaders should remember to recognize positive employee behaviors that deserve recognition to motivate employees to continue behaving in that manner.
Furthermore, when positive behavior is rewarded it is a reinforcement not only for the employee rewarded but for others who can be inspired to emulate the same.
Here are 11 employee behaviors that deserve recognition, along with key employee recognition examples for an effective employee recognition program.
1. Strong Work Ethic
Employees with a strong work ethic are consistent in their punctuality and dedication. They are committed to meeting targets and show ownership and responsibility.
Recognition Example: Recognize an employee who consistently arrives early for work and is proactive enough to stay late when deadlines are there. A handwritten note appreciating the dedication and strong work ethic displayed or a small customized memento reading ’ In Appreciation of Your Work Ethic.’.
Why this behavior deserves recognition: For a successful and productive workplace, it is essential that employees be consistent and dedicated to their work.
2. Supporting the Team with a Positive Attitude
This best describes those employees who can be optimistic and cheerful even about the most monotonous tasks or see the best in challenging times and support other colleagues through it.
Recognition Example: You can recognize such an employee with a cheerful office plant, smiley cup, or some other substantial token of appreciation and thank them for being a shining light even in the worst times.
Why this behavior deserves recognition: A positive attitude improves the overall working environment and is motivating for others, especially in keeping morale high. And by supporting team members, it is easier for the organizational goal to be met.
3. Adapting to Change
Being dynamic is a talent not many have, but employees who can adapt quickly without a fuss to changes in priorities, accept new challenges, and take unexpected situations in their stride are rare.
Recognition Example: You can recognize an employee who was able to be adaptable and flexible in a recent project by mentioning them and their positive, flexible mindset and willingness to adjust in a company-wide email. That way, the employee will feel appreciated and others too will be motivated to show similar flexibility.
Why this behavior deserves recognition: To be adaptable is in the company’s interest as the work environment is highly dynamic and so to get tasks done, employees need to cultivate a flexible mindset.
4. Demonstrating Leadership
Some employees enjoy leadership roles and are willing to share ideas and expertise with their colleagues.
Recognition Example: During a team meeting, you can especially mention an employee who has mentored and hand-held a new colleague. Acknowledge how their willingness to share expertise and knowledge helps others adapt to a new environment more effectively.
Why this behavior deserves recognition: When employees are willing to assist each other, it builds a positive environment and fosters a culture based on learning and development.
5. Taking Initiative
Employees who are proactive about identifying and solving problems without being specifically asked to do so display the ability to take initiative. Such employees show a commitment to excellence and take ownership of their work.
Recognition Example: A simple heartfelt thank you, a mention in the company newsletter in the ‘Achiever’s Section’, or a small token of appreciation can be used to identify an employee who takes the initiative to proactively solve project-related problems. Make sure to highlight the positive effect that the solution had on the outcome of the project.
Why this behavior deserves recognition: When employees are proactive in identifying potential problems and thinking of possible solutions themselves, it saves time for the company, boosts productivity, and shows, more importantly, that the employee is dedicated to improving consistently.
6. Creative Problem-Solving
There are employees who are creative and think of solutions that are out-of-the-box. Such employees contribute to continuous improvement and can give innovative solutions to project challenges.
Recognition Example: When an employee can think creatively and devise a time-saving process. Recognize the employee publicly through a public mention in front of the rest of the company, and provide a gift card or company-branded merchandise to show appreciation and motivate other employees.
Why this behavior deserves recognition: Such creative problem-solving ensures innovation and improves efficiency, which helps the company become more efficient and saves time for employees.
7. Consistency and Reliability
Employees who are dependable and deliver high-quality work regularly are consistent and reliable. Such employees pay attention to detail, are careful about meeting deadlines, show accuracy in work, and support their colleagues while meeting their job roles.
Recognition Example: During a team meeting, you can recognize such an employee as these traits are very productive for the entire organization. You can provide the employee with a wellness hamper, spa, or restaurant coupon to show appreciation and motivate clothes towards this approach.
Why this behavior deserves recognition: Reliability and consistency help meet deadlines and retain clients’ trust for work delivered on time. The timely submission of work ensures that the team/department works smoothly and that projects are on track.
8. Commitment to Learning
Employees dedicated to professional development and improving themselves always find opportunities to self-learn and develop new skill sets. Such employees are proactive about attending workshops, online courses, professional certifications, etc.
Recognition Example: When you find out about an employee who has upskilled through a course, congratulate them on the achievement and tell the team about it. Moreover, publicly acknowledge this behavior as positive by informing the employee and the team that the company would reimburse the course costs to encourage other employees to upskill, too.
Why this behavior deserves recognition: Through continuous learning, employees can hone their skills further. A commitment to learning doesn’t just benefit the employee’s professional development. It helps them better adapt to new technologies, ideas, and thought processes, improving their overall performance and productivity. Plus, they can train others on these skills, too.
9. Meeting Tight Deadlines
To be able to deliver work that is of high quality with consistency under pressure is no small feat. Such employees are dependable even when given difficult-to-meet deadlines.
Recognition Example: Send an appreciative email to the employee, commending them for their effective time management and thanking them for being someone the team can always depend on.
Why this behavior deserves recognition: This behavior is essential in ensuring that projects stay on track even during difficult times and that client expectations are met unfailingly.
10. Providing Excellent Customer Service
This is for employees who take the initiative to go above and beyond when it comes to meeting the expectations of the customer. Such employees leave a lasting positive impression of the company through their impeccable service and ensure that issues are resolved promptly, making the customer a fan of the company’s dedicated service.
Recognition Example: You can recognize such an employee through a Customer Service Excellence Award. Make sure to mention their contributions, the impact, and positive customer reviews in a company-wide email so that other employees understand the importance of excellence in customer service.
Why this behavior deserves recognition: Such behaviors are the driving force behind customer loyalty. A brand reputation is built through such excellent customer service, which ensures business growth.
11. Communication
Employees who can communicate with tact and with clarity are able to avoid wasting time in miscommunication or misunderstandings. Being an effective communicator is also an essential tool when dealing with clients.
Recognition Example: You can commend such employees during team meetings, citing examples of how effective communication helps keep clarity during project discussions. You can also get an Exceptional Communicator Award and mention how the employee’s communication has benefitted the firm through better client rapport.
Why this behavior deserves recognition: Good communication skills and tact help build a stronger team, as communication is required for team members to understand each other better. When merged with tact, it creates positivity in the workplace.
When viewed individually, these behaviors might not look like much, but on the whole, they help teams and organizations reach productivity goals while maintaining a positive environment. By recognizing such behavior, employees are motivated and feel inspired to emulate such positive behaviors as rewarded.
However, for managers and leaders, this might mean extra work, and even leaving that bit aside, even managers with the best intentions can be stumped when writing a positive feedback message. After all, it must be authentic and genuine and strike the right balance between professional and personal.
How to Make Giving Feedback Easy (my recommendation)
To simplify this process of creating an effective and positive feedback message, I recommend Geekflare’s Positive Feedback Messages Tool, as it generates a human-sounding feedback message based on the most minimal input.
I have used it multiple times, and I have found that all you need to do is add the employee name, whom it is from, and select the behavior you want to appreciate from the options, then voilà! — you have the feedback message generated. And the best part is that you can change the tone from formal emails to semiformal notes.
Tips for Effective Recognition of Behaviors (to give you that extra edge!)
Now that you know the fundamental behavior patterns that deserve recognition, how that recognition is provided matters, too, especially in making it effective. Here are 5 tips for adequate recognition of behaviors.
1. Be Specific
A generic thank you will feel half-hearted at best. It is essential to specify the behavior being recognized and its impact to make the most of employee recognition.
Example: Instead of a vague sentence of appreciation like, “That was well done,” you could say instead, “I really appreciate the timely way in which you completed the project and how you helped your team proactively throughout.”
2. Be Timely
From the perspective of reward and reinforcement, it is better to appreciate an employee’s behavior sooner rather than later, as timely recognition has a more significant effect.
Example: If an employee shows a strong work ethic and arrives early and goes home late to complete a project on time, send an email of appreciation once the project is done instead of waiting for the next employee recognition program.
3. Be Personalized
Not all employees like to be recognized in public; hence, when appreciating an employee, their preference matters, not just the fact that they are appreciated. A personalized gift or handwritten note would be better if the employee prefers to be recognized privately.
Example: For employees who like public recognition, appreciating them during a team email or in the company newsletter can be an option. For those who prefer private recognition, a token of appreciation presented privately or within the team is better.
4. Make it Public (when appropriate)
To make recognition part of the company culture, it is essential to make appreciation the norm. By sharing appreciation during team meetings and in the company newsletter, employees will get used to appreciating and recognizing their colleagues.
Example: When an employee navigates a challenging scenario or project, you should share their strategies and success stories through the company newsletter to inspire others.
5. Use Technology
With so many employees and appreciation opportunities, it can seem a task to managers and leaders to be positive, supportive, and provide appreciative feedback. Tools are a lifesaver here as tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, and dedicated recognition platforms like Kudos make the recognition process more manageable, especially regarding quick messages.
Example: Suppose you receive a good suggestion from a colleague; you can send a brief message of appreciation with a simple “@mention”.
Regarding employee appreciation and recognition, it is essential to remember that results aren’t the only yardstick — effort matters, and the gauge for effort is in the employee’s behavior. When efforts, positive contributions, and dedication are recognized, employees automatically become more engaged and motivated. Through appreciation, you not only boost the spirit and morale of the team but also improve employee retention while supporting creativity and drive.
That is why it is vital to review the current employee recognition practices you are following and see if you are missing the behavioral bit because, as you can see from the above, it can make a big difference.
Consider whether you are acknowledging the impactful behaviors of your employees and how you provide that recognition (hopefully, it isn’t a wait until the next Employee Recognition Awards day! Plus, are you doing the smart work of incorporating technology in your recognition activities, or are you struggling with time? Thus, look at your current system and make the necessary tweaks. More importantly, let’s start with today’s ‘Thank yous’ to create a positive workplace culture!