The results couldn’t be more conclusive. An open-ended, unaided survey of one thousand randomly selected employees in the United States reveals that the single most important practice managers can adopt to cause employees to produce ‘great work’ is to recognize them. In fact, employees in a recent study cited “recognition” three times as often as any other that may cause them to produce great work.
These new findings hold massive weight, especially as Employee Appreciation Day nears this Friday (March 6), and we (having studied and written about workplace appreciation for decades) know full well that many managers and organizations find themselves in a panic when they've realized the day has arrived, and they've totally forgotten about it.
Not a big deal to forget? Well, that depends on how good an organization or manager is at showing appreciation on a regular basis. For example, showing your significant other how much you love them on Valentine’s Day isn’t as critical if you’ve showed them on a regular basis throughout your relationship. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean you can forget about the holiday altogether.
In fact, although recognition is the single most influential cause of great work across all generations of U.S. workers, the impact is even greater with Millennials. “Of all age groups, those in the Millennial generation are most highly motivated by recognition and also value recognition from peers as influential in performing great work,” said Gary Beckstrand, Vice President at the O.C. Tanner Institute.
The Drivers of Great Work study commissioned by the O.C. Tanner Institute, and the basis of a newly published Employee Performance White Paper, sought to identify the most effective practices that cause employees to produce ‘great work,’ which is defined as being productive and innovative, and making a difference people care about–outcomes that every organization cares about.
Still, there’s more to consider when it comes to great work and recognition:
· Financial impact: Consistent performers of great work are 21% more likely than infrequent performers to have a high impact on the long-term financial performance of the organization, regardless of seniority.
· Top talent: Consistent performers of great work—the very best employees—are 20% more likely to work at organizations with excellent recognition or promotion practices.
“While perks such as onsite daycare, gyms, and free food enhance the work environment, these benefits are not foundational to a culture of innovation and productivity,” elaborated Beckstrand. “Rather, a culture of great work for every generation and at all levels of seniority comes from individuals clearly understanding they are making a difference to their coworkers and the organization. The resulting sense of appreciation is most meaningfully communicated through recognition from managers and peers.”
With conclusive data like this, most organizations and managers realize they need to step it up when it comes to showing appreciation for a job well done. Nevertheless, many of you reading this still might be in the mindset of “I don’t have time to create a full-fledged recognition strategy before by entire staff sees their friends and relatives celebrating Employee Appreciation Day on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn." So, we thought we’d offer 5 Last Minute Employee Appreciation Day Ideas.
1. In-Office Services. Pamper your people at the office. We’ve seen employers hiring on-site massage therapists, car washers, and even ‘errand-runners’ for their team. Think about the services your people would love—services that either treat them like royalty or remove a burden from their day.
2. At-Home Services. One of the best ways to show your appreciation for your team is to show you care about their life outside the office. Some employers provide a day of house cleaning, lawn-care, snow-clearing, and even child-care or pet-care services so employees can have a night out with their significant other.
3. A Personal Note. Sometimes the simplest efforts make the biggest impact. A hand-written note expressing why you specifically appreciate someone and their efforts and/or results at work are cherished and kept for years.
4. Food. Taking your team out to an extended lunch at a nice restaurant is a great way to show your appreciation. Or go bigger. Tell the team what each individual brings to the table. One company actually gave their people an extended lunch hour and cash so employees could go meet their friends, spouses, or kids and treat them to lunch.
5. Time Off With Pay. Whether you can let your team go for a full day, a half day, or even a couple of hours early, an email or handwritten note (a day or two before so they can make plans) is always a welcomed surprise. Make sure you communicate that you appreciate what they do for the company, and how you hope they take some time for themselves.
Without a doubt, research is proving that if you want great work from your people, recognition is the most powerful tool to achieve results. And although we offered last minute ideas for one day of the year, great work truly happens when appreciation is obvious every day of the year.
