WOW! bytes of wisdom

The job market is tight, so are corporate budgets.  That’s even more reason to recognize the contributions of employees and to consider creative ways to motivate them.

Although money is important to employees, management specialist Bob Nelson rightly points out that “what tends to motivate them to perform — and perform at higher levels — is the thoughtful, personal kind of recognition that signifies true appreciation for a job well done.”  Recognition doesn’t need to be expensive.  In fact, according to Nelson, some of the most effective forms cost nothing at all.  He gives a generous bundle of examples in “1001 Ways to Reward Employees” (Workman Publishing, 1994).  Here’s a sampling of some of his ideas along with a few of our own:

Gifts create a lasting reminder of your appreciation.

It’s easy to give employees cash, but the money is quickly spent and the reason for the recognition easily forgotten. Consider the following instead:

• Give simple, unexpected gifts of time to make the person feel special.
• Appliances and consumer electronic products are always welcome, especially when the item is in its early stages of market acceptance.
• Award gift certificates for food, books, clothes or music.
• Allow the employee to choose any item of a given value from a merchandise catalog.
• Give new responsibilities to a team member who has demonstrated the ability to handle the work.

Make formal awards a part of your culture.

• Establish company awards for whatever behavior you want to encourage: best attendance, highest quality, exemplary customer service.  Then hold a ceremony in which top-level executives publicly present these awards.
• Create a trophy that moves from one high-performing department or person to the next.  You can ask the current holder help decide who gets it next.
• Recommend the team member for an applicable company recognition award.

A simple “thank you” costs nothing.

A sincere word of thanks from the right person at the right time can mean more to an employee than a raise, a formal award or a whole wall of certificates and plaques.

• Send handwritten letters of appreciation.
• Post a thank-you note on an employee’s door.
• Call employees into your office just to say thank you.  Don’t discuss any other issue.
• Have the company president or a high-level manager phone employees to thank them for a job well done.
• Pre-print “ABCD” (Above and Beyond the Call of Duty) cards and encourage managers and fellow employees to award them to deserving colleagues.
• In team meetings, encourage members to recognize each other’s positive contributions.
• Hold surprise team meetings to recognize outstanding work.

Low-cost gestures can “create a story.”

Your recognition will have a stronger impact when it creates a story that the employee can tell family, friends and associates for years to come.

• Recognize hard work by arranging for the employee’s car to be washed in the parking lot.  Or pay for a housecleaning service for the employee’s home.
• Rent a sports car for the employee to drive for a week.
• Arrange for a photo session with the company president.

Food is always in good taste.

Food appeals to the senses and creates a festive atmosphere when shared with family or colleagues.

• Deliver a fruit basket, frozen steaks or a batch of chocolate chip cookies.
• Hold a team lunch at a restaurant or in the office to celebrate a team achievement.
• Personalize the label on a wine bottle with a message of thanks to the recipient.
• Treat employees to a pizza lunch or a giant hero sandwich.
• Surprise a top-performing department with a champagne picnic at a local park.

Time off is universally appreciated.

Whether it is a free afternoon or a six-month sabbatical, this form of recognition is universally welcome.

• Provide an extra break.
• Allow a two-hour lunch (and pay for dessert).
• Grant a long weekend after a particularly demanding period of work.

There are three powerful motivators in business: helping people improve their skills, involving them in decisions that affect their work, and recognizing their efforts and achievement.  Recognition, done well, may be the most effective.