According to a recent article in Entrepreneur, “over 1 in 3 (34%) employees surveyed said recognition for their contributions was a key way to enhance their well-being” (the overall state of their physical, mental, and emotional health and how they feel about their work and life balance). Yet, 2 in 5 employees don’t recall receiving recognition from their manager in the past year.
In years of working closely with leaders and organizations across all sectors of industry, our team at ADR Vantage has found that one of the simplest yet most impactful ways to gauge the health of a workplace’s culture is to measure if, and how, employees recognize and positively acknowledge each other in their day-to-day interactions. Sadly, there just isn’t enough workplace recognition, and more often than not, employees receive feedback centered on what they did wrong, rather than on what they’ve done right. Many employees also feel that even their best efforts are routinely ignored or overlooked. Although constructive feedback and working through a plan for improvement is important for every employee, most workplaces have gotten too good at pointing out employee faults and flaws rather than their strengths and virtues. This lack of positive recognition is not only leading to a decline in personal well-being, as stated earlier, but also adding to higher rates of employee burnout and plummeting workplace motivation. On the flip side, not only does positive acknowledgement meet a fundamental human need to feel accepted and appreciated, but it also fosters a greater sense of purpose and accomplishment that drives higher job satisfaction and commitment. In fact, 40% of employed Americans surveyed say they would put more energy into their work if they were recognized more often.
Especially when times are tough, the practice of acknowledgement can serve as the “glue” that holds everyone, and everything, together while waiting for better times ahead. Research shows that, even in turbulent times, boosting workplace acknowledgement among employees can improve morale and job satisfaction as well as increase workplace productivity, loyalty, and retention. It can even enhance trust and collaboration among teammates and between managers and employees. The best part? You don’t have to be a C-suite executive or a manager to practice the power of acknowledgement – anyone can do it, and we should all be doing it more often at work.
Acknowledgement is about recognizing and appreciating others for who they are and what they bring to your workplace, including their contributions, efforts, and achievements. And as much as performance-based achievements like meeting sales quotas, bringing on a new client, or meeting project deadlines are all achievements worthy of acknowledgement, it can be the other intangibles that really deserve notice. Maybe someone you work with is great at helping to figure out the latest Microsoft Teams feature. Perhaps another person at work knows just the right timing to bring humor into meetings and make everyone smile. Maybe you notice that a staff member on another team takes the extra time to welcome new employees during onboarding sessions. There are likely hundreds of big and small moments that happen each day that deserve more recognition than they are getting. By being more intentional about noticing and acknowledging others, we can each have a huge impact on those around us and contribute to greater well-being at work for everyone.
Try incorporating one or more of the following acknowledgement techniques at work:
Verbal Praise:
Provide specific and sincere verbal praise soon after an employee or colleague has performed well, put in solid effort, achieved a goal, or supported you or someone else. Tell them what they did, how it was important or impactful, and pause for a moment of celebration or cheer.
Written Messages:
Send a handwritten note, email, or team channel message expressing appreciation to show others that their contributions are valued. The power of seeing praise and thankful thoughts in writing can not only boost someone’s day, but it can also help build their positive sense of self in the workplace.
Public Recognition:
A public acknowledgment, such as a shout-out in a team meeting or a company-wide newsletter, can create a sense of pride and accomplishment. Offering praise for someone’s good work in front of others is also a great way to increase a person’s visibility to members of leadership and to increase the overall motivation and good feelings of an entire group of people.
Small Gestures:
Simple gestures like a high five, a smile, saying “thank you” out loud, awarding extra leave time, or a small gift card can also convey appreciation and acknowledgment. Many organizations offer employee recognition awards, certificates, or similar programs that highlight employee accomplishments, efforts on a special project, or acts of kindness at work.
Team Celebrations:
Offering or organizing team outings, lunch delivery to remote workers, or online group activities can offer the chance for team members to acknowledge each other, celebrate important accomplishments or transitions, and bond as a team.
Feedback and Coaching:
Providing constructive feedback and coaching can help employees grow and improve, while also acknowledging their potential and capabilities. Regular and consistent feedback also shows you care about the other person’s professional growth and development.
Remember Effort as Much as Goals
Try to remember that even when certain aspirations aren’t met, it can be important to acknowledge hard work, extra effort, innovation and creativity, and the willingness to try even if at first, they don’t succeed. Employees need support and recognition for their labor as much as for the goals they achieve.
However you choose to acknowledge those you work with, think about what each individual may need and tailor the recognition to what helps motivate that person. In a 2024 Gallup poll, data revealed that the most effective recognition is honest, authentic, and individualized to how each employee wants to be recognized. Consider whether the person prefers praise in private or in front of others and what kind of recognition is most meaningful to them. Providing recognition is not only beneficial to the individual employee receiving it, but it also communicates a message to the wider workforce about what your organization values. Acknowledging each employee for who they are and what they bring to your organization is truly one of the best ways to build a positive workplace culture that will help you attract and retain top talent now and in the future.