??"Boosting Team Motivation: Unveiling the Power of Kudo Cards and Kudo Box Practices"??

Kudo Cards Practice - Adventist Hospital of Manaus

At Adventist Hospital of Manaus, we are dedicated to enhancing motivation and morale in the workplace. Adopting Kudo Cards, a fundamental aspect of Management 3.0 practices, can significantly contribute to this goal. These simple yet impactful cards are a powerful tool for valuing our people. They have become an integral part of our recognition culture, transforming everyday gratitude into tangible acts of appreciation that boost team spirit and motivation.

What are Kudo Cards???

Kudo Cards are simple cards that symbolize gratitude. Kudo Cards are not just about celebrating small but significant actions in the workplace. They are about fostering a culture of recognition and appreciation. From a friendly smile during challenging times to support in personal matters, from recognizing outstanding performance to behaviors that strengthen our organization's values, Kudo Cards are a powerful tool for acknowledging and appreciating the efforts of our team members.

How It Works??

The process of using Kudo Cards and Kudo Box is simple yet effective. Kudo Cards are placed in a Kudo Box, which is then collected and celebrated publicly every 15 days. The cards are read aloud during team meetings, allowing everyone to share in the appreciation and recognition received. This practice, inspired by the concepts of intrinsic motivation from Daniel Pink's book?Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, underscores the importance of recognizing small but significant achievements in boosting team morale and motivation.

Implementing the Kudo Wall

We also implemented the Kudo Wall, a public mural displaying Kudo Cards for the entire team to see. To implement it, follow these steps:

1. Choose a Visible Location:?The mural should be placed in a common area where all team members can easily see it, such as a break room near the main entrance.
2. Prepare the Space:?Use a clean wall or a bulletin board. Add hooks or double-sided tape so the cards can be easily affixed and removed.
3. Personalize:?Decorate the mural to reflect the organization's values and culture. In our case, we have a mobile mural that we can move around in our meetings.
4. Encourage Participation:?Encourage all team members to use the mural, not just to receive but also to give recognition. Another way we use the Kudo Wall is during brief training sessions or workshops with other hospital areas to show how and when to use the Kudo Cards.
5. Keep It Updated:?Regularly curate the mural to keep recent recognitions in the spotlight. With this, we aim to make the Kudo Cards thematic so that they stay updated and relevant to the context in which they will be used.
6. Celebrate Recognitions:?During team meetings, read the Kudo Cards on the mural to celebrate achievements and strengthen the feeling of mutual appreciation.??????

Personal Experience and Insights

As a facilitator of the Kudo Cards practice, I gave and received these cards of appreciation. Here are some recognitions I recently received, which filled me with joy and motivation:

• "Thank you for sharing management and leadership practices with us."
• "Have a great vacation. We will miss your presence in the department. Your determination and pursuit of improvement, dedication, and drive inspire me."
• "Thank you for listening to us, for your patience, for innovating, caring, being willing, and getting closer to the team."

Receiving a Kudo Card was a joyous experience. It validated my efforts and deeply reinforced my commitment to promoting a supportive work environment. This personal interaction with the practice enhanced my understanding of its impact, teaching me that genuine appreciation can significantly elevate morale and motivation. You will also experience this sense of validation and motivation as a valued team member when you receive a Kudo Card.

Through this experience, I learned the importance of recognizing each individual's efforts, not just as a leader but also as a colleague. This practice has reinforced my facilitation style, making me more attentive to team members' needs and contributions.

Practical Implementation and Learning

We introduced Kudo Cards by placing two Kudo Boxes in accessible locations—one with the cards and another with small gifts like chocolates and themed stickers. This allowed everyone to personalize their gratitude. The initiative began with discussions highlighting the importance of recognition—these conversations were crucial in setting the tone and expectation for our culture of appreciation.

Reflecting on these experiences, I realized the importance of making the process as inclusive and accessible as possible. Ensuring that each of you feels comfortable participating in this exchange of gratitude has been a critical learning point. Your participation is not just encouraged; it is essential to the success of this practice. Your recognition and appreciation of each other's efforts impact the Kudo Cards practice.

Impact and Adoption

Today, 90% of our meetings incorporate Kudo Cards, showing the effectiveness of this practice in engaging the team. Additionally, 60% of the organization has already experienced Kudo Cards during our training sessions, promoting a culture of recognition throughout the hospital. Notably, five new areas, including the pharmacy and various administrative departments, have adopted Kudo Cards to recognize their colleagues' efforts, validating this initiative's expansion and success.

The areas that have adopted Kudo Cards have used the practice in various settings, such as team meetings, training sessions, and project retrospectives. This flexibility in applying Kudo Cards has allowed each department to adapt the practice according to its specific needs and characteristics.

As we are implementing in other new areas that have adopted Kudo Cards, we started with introductory sessions to explain the benefits and purpose of Kudo Cards. These sessions are followed by practical training where team members learn to create and use the cards effectively. We also encourage customization of the Kudo Cards to reflect the values and particularities of each team.

Additionally, we promote using a 'Kudo Wall' in each department, where recognition can be publicly displayed. This increases recognition visibility and is a constant reminder of the importance of valuing and appreciating each other's efforts.

??Supervisors in the Sanitation and Cleaning department also use Kudo Cards to thank colleagues for their contributions during training sessions.

By reinforcing organizational values, attitudes, and knowledge within the team, we positively impact our deliveries, improve communication, and encourage collaboration among colleagues, breaking down silos between departments.

??Future Planning and Integration with Feedback Tools

In the second half of the year, we plan to expand the use of Kudo Cards, integrating them with other feedback practices within the Adventist Hospital of Manaus. We know the need for a more holistic and integrated approach to feedback, so we plan to conduct specific training on feedback tools. This training aims to further empower our employees in the practice of recognition and the skill of providing constructive feedback in an effective and empathetic manner.

Moreover, in a technological innovation to enhance our performance management practices, we will implement a feature for virtual Kudo Cards within our performance management platform. This will allow employees to send virtual recognition cards to each other, which will be displayed on a 'Praise Wall' accessible to all. This initiative facilitates real-time and remote recognition and promotes a visible and constant culture of appreciation.

We are excited about the future of the Kudo Cards practice at Adventist Hospital of Manaus. We envision a workplace where recognition and appreciation are occasional acts and part of our daily routine. We realize this vision by integrating Kudo Cards with our performance management platform. This initiative will broaden the reach and ease of use of Kudo Cards and reinforce the culture of continuous feedback and recognition among team members. We hope this integration will make the recognition process more accessible and integrated into your daily routines, encouraging a constant and consistent practice of recognition and mutual appreciation within our organization.

This development is a step forward in our journey to build a workplace where recognition and positive feedback are integral to each team member's personal and professional growth.

Conclusion????

Although simple, these cards have proven to be powerful tools for transforming everyday gratitude into tangible and visible acts of appreciation. Our practice of frequently renewing the themes of Kudo Cards, adapting them to the team's interests—cats, superheroes, or memes—keeps the initiative vibrant and relevant, ensuring that recognition remains engaging and meaningful.

As we move forward, integrating these cards with our performance management platform will further enhance their impact, facilitating the sending of virtual recognitions that everyone can see and celebrate. This next step not only expands the reach of Kudo Cards but also deepens our culture of constructive feedback and mutual recognition.

We hope this continuous evolution in Kudo Cards and our feedback practices will motivate and value each team member, solidifying the Adventist Hospital of Manaus as a place where daily personal and professional growth is celebrated. Through these initiatives, we reinforce our commitment to building a workplace where recognition is not an event but an integral part of our organizational culture.??

??"It's an incentive tool that motivates people's performance. When I receive recognition from my colleagues, I feel motivated and happy. And when I give recognition, I feel that it makes a difference because we're acknowledging a job well done." - R&S Analyst Soraia Veras

Source: Testimonials and Experiences at Adventist Hospital of Manaus