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This week was a big one in our household.
Our son Charlie has been having a bit of a tough time at school lately.
He's only 6, and still finds it hard to manage his emotions when he's upset.
But he's been working really hard at it, and this week, his teachers selected him for an award for his contributions to the class.
We went to the school assembly on Friday where it was announced to the whole school.
When Charlie's name was called, he jumped up, a big smile on his face, to receive his award.
He was VERY proud.
Later that evening, when putting him to bed, he said to us, "Today was the best day ever. I love my award."
We chatted about it a bit more, and he drifted off to sleep.
It was a really lovely moment where he felt good about himself – the recognition meant a lot to him.
It was a powerful reminder of just how much recognition can mean.
All of this translates to adults in the work environment too.
Recognition isn’t just a “nice-to-have” in the workplace — it’s essential.
It’s about acknowledging effort, encouraging improvement, celebrating wins, and creating a culture where people feel valued and motivated.
Here are 3 considerations for building better recognition into your business:
3 WAYS TO INCORPORATE RECOGNITION INTO YOUR BUSINESS
1- Spot and Reward Positive Behaviours:
- Be on the lookout for behaviours you want to see more of, and recognise them when they happen.
- Whether it’s excellent customer service or a creative solution, let your team know their efforts are appreciated.
- This is especially important when someone who's been struggling puts effort into improving; like Charlie, it can mean a lot to be acknowledged, and it will likely help reinforce the behaviour you're looking for.
2 – Formal and Informal Recognition:
- Use a mix of formal and informal recognition.
- Public awards or bonuses are great, but don’t underestimate the power of a simple “Thank you, I appreciate what you're doing”.
3 – Make It Personal:
- Generic recognition doesn’t cut it. Make it specific and personal.
- Explain why you’re recognising someone and how their contributions are making a difference.
- At Charlie's school, each award winner gets a certificate with a note from their teacher explaining why they received their award, words of encouragement, and thanks. This is what makes it particularly special.
At the end of the day, recognition is essential because to do our best work, we need to feel valued, appreciated, and proud of our efforts.
It motivates and encourages us, which translates into helping businesses with teams to grow and thrive.
In our eyes, that's a worthy investment.
Plus, you never know, you might just make someone's day their best day ever.
Need help designing a reward and recognition program that works?
Let’s chat!
Speak soon,
Lynne & Steve
TLDR:
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Recognising your team's efforts is crucial for building a positive and motivated work culture.
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To do 'recognition' well in your business, 1) Spot and reward positive behaviors, 2) Use formal and informal recognition, and 3) Make it personal.
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Need help with a recognition program? Get in touch with us.
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