How can you increase recognition and appreciation in your workplace?

1 Align recognition with values

One of the best ways to increase recognition and appreciation in your workplace is to align them with your organization's values and mission. This way, you can reinforce the behaviors and outcomes that support your vision and purpose, and show your employees how their work matters. To do this, you need to communicate your values clearly and consistently, and use them as criteria for recognizing and rewarding your employees. For example, you can use your internal communication channels, such as newsletters, intranet, or social media, to share stories and examples of how your employees demonstrate your values in their work. You can also create awards or incentives that are based on your values, such as a value champion, a value ambassador, or a value innovator.

2 Personalize recognition and appreciation

Another way to increase recognition and appreciation in your workplace is to personalize them according to your employees' preferences and needs. Not everyone likes to receive recognition and appreciation in the same way, and some may even find it uncomfortable or awkward. Therefore, you need to understand what makes your employees feel appreciated and how they like to be recognized. You can use surveys, feedback, or conversations to find out their preferred recognition style, such as public or private, verbal or written, formal or informal, individual or team-based, or tangible or intangible. Then, you can tailor your recognition and appreciation accordingly, and make sure they are sincere, specific, and timely.

3 Encourage peer recognition and appreciation

A third way to increase recognition and appreciation in your workplace is to encourage peer recognition and appreciation among your employees. Peer recognition and appreciation can have a powerful impact on your workplace culture, as they can foster trust, collaboration, and camaraderie among your team members. They can also help your employees feel more connected and supported, especially if they work remotely or across different locations. To encourage peer recognition and appreciation, you can create opportunities and platforms for your employees to share their gratitude, praise, or feedback with each other. For example, you can use online tools, such as kudos boards, shout-out walls, or recognition apps, to enable your employees to send and receive messages of appreciation. You can also organize events, such as virtual coffee chats, happy hours, or team-building activities, to facilitate informal and fun interactions among your peers.

4 Recognize and appreciate yourself

A final way to increase recognition and appreciation in your workplace is to recognize and appreciate yourself. Sometimes, you may be so focused on recognizing and appreciating others that you forget to acknowledge your own achievements and contributions. However, self-recognition and self-appreciation are important for your well-being, confidence, and growth, as they can help you celebrate your successes, learn from your challenges, and set your goals. To recognize and appreciate yourself, you can practice gratitude, reflection, or affirmation on a regular basis. For example, you can write down three things that you are grateful for, proud of, or happy about at the end of each day. You can also review your progress and feedback, and identify your strengths and areas for improvement. You can also say positive and encouraging words to yourself, such as "I did a great job today", "I am a valuable team member", or "I can overcome this obstacle".

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?