The Power of Recognition

When a company or organization creates an environment that motivates people, and where positive behavior is rewarded, they will be able to attract the best talent, maintain strong morale, retain their key employees, and ultimately stay ahead of the competition.

This environment, rich in motivation and recognition, will achieve positive results, weather on the ball field, in the classroom, the workplace, or even around the dinner table.  The key to this premise is RECOGNITION -- Making Someone Proud.  If you reward good behavior, it will be repeated.  This principle has been demonstrated many times over, in both laboratory settings and the real world.  What is the reward? RECOGNITION -- Making Someone Proud.  Studies have shown that if you recognize and appreciate your co-workers, good things will happen.  Stress, absenteeism, and turnover will decrease, while morale, productivity, and competitiveness will increase.  Likewise, in the classroom, positively reinforcing behavior through recognition, will lead to increased attentiveness, improved test scores, and most importantly, a genuine interest in learning.

Despite the popular belief, money is not the best way to recognize superior performance.  Research shows us that the number one reason that people leave their jobs is "LIMITED RECOGNITION AND PRAISE".  Issues such as compensation were deemed to be less important than RECOGNITION.   Clearly, people value respect, appreciation, and recognition just as much -- and often times more than -- monetary rewards.  The money will be spent and long forgotten, while an award will live on as a reminder of the achievement for years to come.

An added benefit of RECOGNITION is that it will affect more than just the recipient.  When a coach recognizes a player for improving their play, not only will the player feel proud about the recognition but the coach and the entire team also celebrates in the joy of accomplishment and feeling of pride.  When a manager recognizes a co-worker, the co-worker is proud, but so is the manager in having that person on their team.  Recognition as it is given or received is an act of empowerment.  Others on the team or in the room are also inspired, and they strive to be recognized also and to recognize others.

How do you recognize your team members, your co-workers, your students or family members?  Start small.  Recognize individual achievement whenever you can.  Or, you may choose to implement a formal recognition program.  This program can be tailored to any goal, from increasing points scored, improving corporate sales, or bringing up the class grade point average.  It's a fairly simple process that doesn't have to involve spending a large amount of money -- remember, the RECOGNITION in itself is what is IMPORTANT.

That's the main foundation for successful motivation.  By Making Someone Proud, you can appreciate the work that people perform, respect them for it, and recognize their accomplishments.

RECOGNITION and APPRECIATION  are powerful motivators leading to an increase in performance, productivity, morale, employee retention, and overall satisfaction.

 Recognition and Appreciation are two of the top principles people value in their jobs.

Creating your own Recognition Program