Peer to Peer Recognition

In large or small companies, it is difficult for one person to see all things that go on amongst the employees, good and bad. This can be a hamper on the value of effort and service an employee puts forth in his or her position. In order to promote consistent good behaviors and curb the instances of poor service or laziness, a peer to peer recognition is invaluable. When each employee is trying to show everyone, not just the managers who may or may not be present, that they are working hard and are kind to clients, guests, and customers, this will only serve to benefit the company.

To implement peer to peer recognition, it is important to set explicit circumstances under which a peer should be able to recognize a peer.  For instance, helping a guest with something other than a purchase i.e. carrying bags out to the car, or giving directions to a client as they leave the office.  These are little things that go a long way in the eyes of the customer and should be equally noticed by the company, if only through the eyes of a fellow employee.  When an employee knows that whether a manager is around or not that they may be recognized, this is a great incentive to always do the great things that managers like to see from them.

Creating a place in the office or store that peers can publicly acknowledge others' cleanliness, friendliness, and extra effort will promote an atmosphere of camaraderie, teamwork, and pride.  Plus, being recognized by a manager is something that should inspire greatness in employees, but being recognized by one's peers can be even greater because someone who is considered an equal found their actions to be exceptional.

Consider putting a peer recognition program in place either with a board of public recognition, or by allowing points to be given in an incentive program just as you would allow a manager to do so.  By instilling a peer recognition program the culture of recognition will only flourish and influence your company for the best.

Build Your Brand with Happy Employees

I know we have all been there. We have a bad day, then we turn around and take it out on whoever comes near us or tries to have a conversation with us. It can sometimes go like this:

Friend Questions: "Hey Ashley, how are you today?"

Answer: "Oh like you care!"

Or... something like that. Imagine if your employee is having a bad day and they have a conversation similar to that with a client or customer. Now if this happens, you should ask, wonder, be concerned about, and try to help in whatever reason your employee gives you for their "case of the Mondays".

As a manager or supervisor of people, it is vital that your attitude is a good one not only towards your job and the clients, but the people you supervise. Many times I have heard this in response to a question about employee recognition:

"Why should I recognize them? They should recognize they are lucky to have a job!! HA!" (insert evil laugh)

Just kidding about the evil laugh.  

But really, if this is the attitude that one is going to take in regards to treatment of their employees, you should be prepared for a slow upward movement in the trajectory of your business, or no movement at all. People need to feel appreciated. Appreciation motivates employees to receive more praise and they will continue to do those desired actions in order to do so. No one has ever said they feel too appreciated. Have they?  

Take pride in your employees and they will take pride in their work and their attitude towards your clients and customers.  Don't let the opportunity to recognize their work go by because it could be a lost opportunity to build your business and retain a great client as well.  Be enthusiastic, appreciative, and motivating to your employees, and hopefully they will have very few cases of the "Mondays".  

Ways to Recognize Your Employees With Little Cost

I know, I know. I am supposed to be here to convince you to spend money to recognize your employees, so why would I write a blog about ways to recognize them with little cost?

Strategy.

I think that the ways that Bukoo offers to create recognition programs for your company are VITAL, but there are also ways that are just as important to show your employees you appreciate them that are free!

1) Say "thank you" to them when they finish a project or take on extra work. It's amazing how much more these words could be used and how far it will go!

2) Create a place to display photos and memos about people who managers and peers think do an excellent job.  Recognizing someone in front of others can be a huge boost!

3). Swap a task with an employee for a day- his/her choice. "Walk a mile in someone else's shoes".

4) Ask the employee to do a special assignment when they show initiative. Feeling like they are being given additional opportunities to perform will motivate them in all areas.

5) Keep board games on hand- Uno, Yahtzee, Go Fish! Anything that can be fun and can be used as a break or stress relief for your employees during a particularly busy time.

6) Give employees an extra long lunch break- just because.

7) Acknowledge employees' achievements and other events outside of the office to show you care. Give them a special small gift for buying a new home, having a baby, getting married, or finishing school.

8) Start a suggestion program- and actually try to implement the suggestions! Employees want to be acknowledged and heard and the best way to do this is by keeping yourself open to others' ideas. You can't think of everything and maybe they will come up with a great new idea that will change the office dynamic for the better.

10) Give your employees compliments. If you think they are working hard, doing a good job, or exceeding expectations, tell them. Make sure you give them this compliment on its own. Don't couple it with a criticism or suggestion. Make this the sole purpose of a conversation. It will mean much more!

All of these ways are easy to do and will mean a lot to the employees. Treat them with respect and recognize their hard work and you will see a difference in their motivation, attitude, and performance! 

Get recognizing!!!

Recognition in Healthcare

The healthcare industry is an ever-changing and booming industry that is creating, modifying, and developing positions on a daily basis. We have all heard about the need for more healthcare facilities due to the aging of the Baby Boomers, but are there enough people to fill the necessary positions?

Many businesses have started developing their plans for this situation years ago, gaining great employees along the way. It is up to the healthcare company to set themselves apart, not only to those using their services, but also to those providing the services. Engaging and recognizing the employees that do a great job, are friendly and knowledgeable will put your healthcare business head and shoulders above other companies when the job market becomes more competitive. If you think your employee is great, chances are someone else will hear how great they are too. Make it difficult for them to leave not only by providing a strong compensation plan but also a feeling that they are important, appreciated, and vital to your organization!

Hey Man Did You Get an Award?- Recognition Can Go A Long Way

Ok, that's dramatic, but Michael Scott may be on to something... 

Recently I have come across an article discussing a study by the American Psychological Association conducted by Harris Interactive between January 31 and February 8, 2011. The survey found some quite interesting results regarding the overall morale and attitude of employees across the country in our current economic state. 

Stagnant job growth and lack of salary raises are factors in the poor attitude of workers, but employees also cited heavy workload (43 percent), unrealistic job expectations (40 percent) and long hours (39 percent) as significant sources of stress. "Additionally, less than half of employees (43 percent) said they receive adequate non-monetary rewards and recognition for their contributions at work and only 57 percent reported being satisfied with their employer's work-life practices. Just 52 percent of employees said they feel valued on the job, only two thirds reported being motivated to do their best at work and almost a third (32 percent) indicated that they intend to seek employment elsewhere within the next year."

Think about the last statistic. One-third of your current employees may have the intention of seeking employment elsewhere within the next year. Is that something your business can handle? With expectations of the economy bouncing back soon, the last thing an organization needs is for their employeess to bounce at the first sign of sunshine because they have been over-stressed and undervalued during these tough times. Employees are the center of your business. They are the ones who have most of the contact with your clients and customers, and to keep your employees happy is a great step in the direction of keeping your business partners happy.  When the economy bounces back make sure you will be able to keep those employees around that have done a great job. Show them how important they are to you now by recognizing their achievements! By taking these steps you will achieve the loyalty of those employees that have stuck around this long, and you may be surprised how far a little recognition can go.