Recognition may be the fastest, smartest and most cost effective path to elevate performance management.
Formal studies, employee surveys and HR evaluations consistently show that employees respond well when they are appreciated, valued and respected. When managers take the time to say “thanks” for a job well done, with specific information on what is being recognised, the impact is powerful and even measurable.
At Brownie Points we passionately believe that recognition, especially given at, or close to, the time an action is observed, is a powerful motivator, and has been proven to help change behaviour. Utilisation of gamification, smart phones, tablets and social recognition are all starting to play a key role in assisting managers to improve recognition and equally importantly, measure the level of engagement and return on investment in the organisation.
The article below contains content written by Jason Thomson, a frequent contributor to RPI.
Over time, the concept of recognition has shifted from being a tool for motivation to one that can influence everything from employee engagement to customer service. Leaders in financial services, manufacturing, call centers, transportation, healthcare, technology and education continue to invest in recognition because of the value from high morale across the workforce to industry-specific results that can be determined in a number of ways.
Measurement is getting better in the world of recognition.
Historically, effective measurement of employee recognition hasn’t easily fit a quantitative mold in the same way that sales or marketing has — but that’s changing, because as the practice of recognition matures, so does the understanding of what it can accomplish, and that actually can be measured.
For example, after recognition programs are implemented and managers are trained in expressing gratitude – does tardiness and absenteeism go down while productivity levels go up? Are delivery schedules running on time or coming in early? Does employee turnover drop because retention levels rise? Are customer service complaints down and call centre upsells higher? These are just a few of the ways companies can measure the impact of recognition.
What to measure – more than the obvious.
Most organisations view measurement in terms of how well the program is used and delivered equal to the outcomes it influences. While subjective, monitoring mood can actually be objective if you know what to look for. Are peers recognising one another and how often? Can managers be heard communicating achievements during the day and walking the floor to see how teams are doing? All of these are great indicators to assess mood but when observations aren’t enough – go direct and ask with a survey.
Surveys are popular because they are usually anonymous which gives managers and supervisors the chance to communicate honestly. This feedback is important for recognition programs because of the human element that is so important for successful employee recognition. Learning what’s working and how it is helping will give you context for further expansions and shifts in the budget allocation and direction. Collecting stories directly from the people involved will be a very helpful way to illustrate data or general success.
Technology continues to improve what measurement can understand.
Companies with recognition programs that utilise technology have an easier time measuring usage and delivery. Employee contests can be another avenue to gain insight into how effective the program is doing overall. Leading organisations look to social recognition through gamification as a way to encourage recognition itself and to understand when, why and how recognition is being employed.
If your employees are happy, customer service compliments are rising, absenteeism is down and sales are up, then your recognition culture is working — but don’t wait for once a year to advance your measurement. Find ways to understand how well your program is doing on a regular basis. Talk to key influencers and get a snapshot of opportunities and challenges. Collect stories from the frontlines. Enable technology to understand awareness and usage. By drawing on a comprehensive latticework of measurement tools, you ensure that recognition is understood as the critical business process it deserves to be and the impact is plentiful.
Brownie Points specialise in the delivery of staff engagement programs. With social, formal and automated recognition for birthdays and anniversary of service, and a variety of gamification features, our solution is ideal for any type of recognition program.
With pricing for SME’s, Not for Profits and commercial organisations, we have a solution for all needs and budgets.
Call the team today on 03 9909 7411, or email us at info@browniepoints.com.au to learn how we could help your organisation.
