5 Ways to Show Appreciation for Rock-Star Employees
Employees not only want great pay and benefits, they also want to be treated with respect, to contribute to the company’s goals, and to be valued and recognized for their efforts. Here are five strategies to reward, recognize and celebrate your team:
1. Be intentional about engagement. Encourage feedback from your team in both one-on-one and group settings to create an open culture of sharing and a forum for fresh ideas. Use employee reviews as an opportunity to gather individual feedback. To the extent possible, be transparent in sharing both company successes and struggles… invite the team to brainstorm solutions. Host regular business meetings to set goals, track progress, and celebrate together along the way.
2. Give public praise and props. Show appreciation for your employees with a social shout out! First, schedule professional headshots; then, share their photos/bios on your website, social media channels, and customer e-blasts. Encourage employees to update their LinkedIn profiles so you can endorse their skills for all to see. Create a “wall of fame” in your office with team photos, company awards, and years of service. Don’t overlook the importance of celebrating major life events, birthdays, and workiversaries; these milestones matter. Take it a step further and verbally recognize their attributes and accomplishments in front of family members at an annual picnic or party.
3. Personalize the perks. Be creative in how you recognize those that go above and beyond. You may give extra time off/PTO, allow late starts or early outs, offer the flexibility to work from home on certain days, or provide a day off to work on a passion project or volunteer for an important cause. Give a gift card to their favorite coffee shop, bakery, brewery, nail salon, or dog groomer (and support a local business as a bonus). While a hand-written note may seem archaic in this digital age, they are rare and more powerful than ever. A personalized thank you card can be a gift itself. Don’t be surprised to find it pinned above or proudly displayed on an employee’s desk.
4. Keep them comfortable (and well-fed). Listen to employee concerns, spend some time in their shoes, and recognize the pain points. Is there outdated technology or equipment that gives them heartburn? Update it. Could the break room use some sprucing up? Spring for cozy chairs, gourmet coffee, and great artwork. Is employee morale lacking? Feed them. Bring in donuts, arrange for a food truck on-site, or organize a happy hour, potluck, or Top Chef competition for some teambuilding fun. Add creature comforts to the office environment to show employees you care.
5. Build them up to build your biz. Invest in your employees by providing opportunities for self-improvement. Take them on a field trip to see manufacturing in action. Encourage them to pursue training (review the 10 free resources for online business courses shared in our May newsletter), consider allocating company time for professional development and reimbursing for education expenses. Be generous with your employee discount (help them get a flagpole in their yard), give logo swag they’ll rave about and actually use (think Carhartt hoodies, Yeti water bottles, North Face vests, and Oakley backpacks), and throw an occasional retreat or surprise party – be an employer they’ll brag about to customers, friends, and family. In turn, you’ll be rewarded with:
Improved company culture
Reduced turnover and improved employee retention
Improved employee engagement & productivity
Improved employee job satisfaction and morale
Improved recruitment and ability to attract top talent
Increased employee loyalty
Better alignment with core values
Improved employee well-being and mental health
Improved perception of management and leadership
Better customer experiences