subject: Why Employee Awards Motivate Employees? [print this page] Your employee has done an excellent job on a project and you feel you want to motivate him to continue. You want to give him positive feedback and are not sure what you should do. This is an opportunity to give employee awards.
When you have given the employee a tangible goal and he/she works to achieve that goal then it is your responsibility to recognize the achievement. Some accomplishment may be small and others may be very grand. Whichever it may be you should demonstrate that it was recognized.
When your employee is motivated he works hard and smart. This is a very profitable combination for you and your business. It is also very positive in that other employees have an example that working hard and smart is a positive act and will lead to being recognized.
If you are only using awards to boost morale and using awards when you think morale is low then this may not maintain the morale at a positive level. It may even be self-defeating over the long term as the employees may begin to feel used. You may be providing a negative response rather than the positive one you were hoping for. Consistent and meaningful recognition is the key. The employee of the month awards are a consistent positive approach to recognition. You provide the staff with a monthly goal and therefore they are all eligible for this award. How best to motivate them?
Sometimes a written thank you for good work left at the desk of the person will make his day and on that day he will achieve incredible results. Asking the employee to your office to comment on the goal reached and a thank you on behalf of yourself and the company is also recognition. Other ways to show recognition is to assign important tasks to people who have taken the initiative in other tasks.
If the task has been a team effort and a specific target has been reached in an ongoing project then perhaps some donuts with morning coffee or a box of chocolates left in their area would say thank you. Perhaps inviting the team to have a picnic lunch on the grounds of the office. Sometimes a half-day off will make the employees feel very special and appreciated. This is not a great expense for the return that the company will receive.
At times when a team finalizes a project successfully it is time for upper management to be involved and present. Complimenting the team and individuals when management is present gives the team a cohesive bond by being recognized together so that the next assignment will even be better. They are all proud to be part of this team. A plaque recognizing these accomplishments could be given and posted near their area. Upper management is now aware of their achievements and will have great expectations from them in their next project.
A encouraging reinforcement of how important an employee is can be done by awarding a plaque that the employee can display near his desk. There are many employees who want to have a plaque that shows how special they are so this will motivate them to work hard so they, too, will be recognized. Being recognized and appreciated, whether at home or at work, is what everyone strives for.
