You’re stuck in traffic, your dog threw up just as you were leaving the house, and you haven’t had your morning java. Yet, as you savor the exhaust on the expressway, you remember Allison, that certain employee who clearly needs some encouragement. Allison’s been working long hours on some tough projects—and doing a great job! You know timing is important. If you don’t recognize Allison soon, she may just feel like she needs to move on. But you don’t have time to draft a complex recognition plan—in fact, she needs to get some recognition today. So, how can you deliver thoughtful, specific employee recognition when you’re short on time? Read on for a few general techniques for quick employee recognition, inspired by Ken Lloyd’s 151 Quick Ways To Recognize and Reward Employees.
Posts Tagged ‘employee motivation’
5 Last-Minute Employee Appreciation Ideas
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009Setting New Hires Up for Success: How to Increase Employee Engagement from Day One
Monday, September 14th, 2009
Every new hire aims to please. Fresh-faced and energetic, they begin with grand visions of how they can help their new employer (and how their new employer can help them.) For about 90 days, that is. By then, most new hires have reflected on their onboarding experience. Many of them have taken on the dominant attitude of the rest of the office. Even if you’re only bringing on one new employee, it’s important to remember that the first few days often set the tone for an employee’s entire experience with your company. In fact, employee engagement can begin even before you make an offer of employment. With a little strategy and careful planning, you just might be able to preserve that new-hire enthusiasm.
Three Ways to Mix Up Your Employee Recognition Routine
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
It is no secret that people love recognition and praise. The right kind of recognition can help to make a boring day an exceptional one. It can also be a tool for improving employee engagement. Recognition programs are standard in organizations throughout the world. Unfortunately, many recognition programs are predictable and stagnant from the employee’s point of view. Once a program is set up, it is too easy to let momentum and habit fuel recognition efforts. Don’t let your organization get into a rut; consider the following tips to keep your recognition fresh and meaningful. Do so, and you’ll enjoy more engaged employees who are eager to present their very best work.
Top Ten Sources of Workplace Stress, and How to Fight Them
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
Workplace stress costs companies millions of dollars every year. It leads to higher turnover and absenteeism, increased worker’s compensation and disability payouts, and lower productivity. Additionally, stress is toxic for Employee Engagement, and can cause employees to become resentful of their employer. In other words, stress is as harmful for your bottom line as it is to your employees. (To see how much stress costs your company every year, see the Stress Cost Calculator.)
5 Tips for Motivating Employees to Complete Surveys
Friday, May 1st, 2009
Legendary innovator Henry Ford once said, “If there is one secret to success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person’s angle as well as your own.” This viewpoint allowed Ford to empathize with the consumer and, perhaps more importantly, his employees. Ford is remembered for putting the majority of Americans behind a steering wheel, but he also paid his workers extremely well for the time. Thanks to this “wage motive,” the Ford Company enjoyed low turn over and lower training costs over time. Henry Ford found that by figuring out what motivated employees, he could keep them around longer, resulting in a better overall product for consumers.