Workplace wins: the power of recognition
A 2023 study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that 41% of UK workers felt undervalued at work.
Data collected by the University of California found that employees who received regular recognition were 50% more productive and experienced greater job satisfaction.
“31% of employees report they are merely surviving ”
Recognition at work is one of the most powerful drivers of job satisfaction, engagement, productivity and retention.
It also significantly improves mental health.
The research around this has been widely available for a long time. But the numbers are getting worse.
So how can you use recognition to improve motivation, morale and loyalty, whilst reducing sick days, burnout and turnover?
Think of it as a visibility project:
On one level, this about consistently finding small ways to show gratitude and appreciation for everyone’s efforts.
For example:
Make recognition and acknowledgement an agenda item in every meeting. Go round the table.
Put up a bulletin board where people can acknowledge and show appreciation for one another.
Create an easy way to share recognition that makes the recognition official as well as personal.
Lead by example.
Some useful things to remember:
* Recognise someone’s effort or achievement as soon as possible - but late’s better than never.
* Take your time and be specific:
“Thanks for staying late to help with the presentation, I know you’ve had a long day already. Your idea of a case study was brilliant.”
“Thanks for your support in the meeting, it gave me the confidence to share my opinion. I feel so relieved!”
* Emails are fine, but a handwritten note is always appreciated. I suspect I’m not alone in having a collection that I pull out on days when my confidence needs boosting.
“Research by the University of California found that employees who received regular recognition were 50% more productive and experienced greater job satisfaction.”
On a deeper level, this about everyone feeling seen. My clients often talk about the pain of feeling invisible - because their voices are not the loudest, or because of assumptions made about them. They see others being valued more highly, so they make themselves small and put their heads down.
Building a culture where everyone is seen and everyone’s efforts and achievements are recognised will expand trust.
When you have a culture of trust, people relax and open up. They become visible and see one another as individuals.
All of that for zero budget - definitely a workplace win!
