Corporate Employee Recognition Programs: How To Motivate
Company service awards and corporate employee recognition programs are effective at keeping morale uplifted and motivating workers when they are designed to help employees become more productive. The key to assuring happy employees includes some creative motivational approaches to traditional employment challenges.
In turbulent economic times, try some of the following suggestions to improve morale:
- Give employees control over their work. Being able to be a decision maker in a difficult situation is the #1 factor in determining the level of the stress for the employee.
- Create an environment where employees think and act like business owners. Being able to think like an 'owner' empowers the employee to do what it takes to get the job done.
- Coach employees to solve their own problems. Allow decision making and calculated risk taking.
- Build self-efficacy. Encourage employees to feel the “thrill of victory”. People grow stronger through challenges.
- Give goals to stretch their abilities. But also, be sure the team has the tools it needs to successfully complete assignments.
- Include subordinates and associates. Try to include all levels of the organization as much as possible in the operational execution of senior level initiatives.
- Celebrate the wins. When people feel their lives have meaning and purpose, they are better able to deal with difficult times. Taking time to celebrate success is important!
- Inspire your team. Encourage the team to rise above the challenges, to persevere and overcome.
- Share success stories. The more each employee believe he or she is part of a great company and that they are making a difference, the more inspired and courageous they will be in the face of adversity.
- Communicate, communicate, communicate. Research has repeatedly shown that “not knowing” is a major factor in adding additional stress to employees in challenging situations.
- Keep employees apprised. Allow the team to understand how it fits into the process along the way in order to gain support for company plans.
- Strengthen relationships. Research by the Gallup Organization and other firms has shown that when employees believe their employers care about them, they are more productive and loyal.
- Make time for the team. Focus on continual relationship building.
- Remove sources of stress. Look at eliminating ineffective processes, rules and obstacles so employees are able to do their jobs well.
Creating a self-sufficient workforce is important to the health of the organization. Particularly in a down economy, having a motivated and responsive workforce is critical. The last thing a company needs is sour morale. Instead, take the time and initiative to foster good employee attitudes.
We would love to know some of the challenges you've faced in motivating your workforce and how you achieved employee support. Let us know if you’ve used or initiated an employee recognition program and what the results were.
