Ideas For Employee Recognition

Sales organizations use a lot of tricks to motivate their sales professionals. However, although most companies have employee recognition programs in place, too many of them are simply based on tenure. That means, even the most successful salesperson only receives kudos from the company whenever the calendar shows another five or 10 years has passed. This approach can work, but it’s also not the most effective way to show appreciation for a high-performing sales professional. Building an employee recognition program that responds to the significant contributions salespeople make on a regular basis has been shown to be much more successful at motivating employees and keeping them engaged. By praising the individual’s performance rather than marking milestones, employees feel as though the company truly pays attention to what they do and appreciates their efforts. Naturally, a salesperson who has been with the company for 20 years is an obvious asset. Though by honoring that employee only every five years, the company misses the opportunity to reward and motivate that salesperson more frequently.

Although many companies might think about implementing a more active employee recognition program and reel at the potential costs, the truth is such a program can be easier and cheaper to implement than they may believe. There are many techniques companies can use for employee recognition programs that don’t have to cost a lot of money or require significant efforts. Even these small gestures, when properly applied, can have a substantial impact on an employee’s engagement; communicating to that employee that his or her contributions to the company’s success have not gone unnoticed.

For example, a basic “wall of fame” concept enables managers to applaud individual performances in a public setting. A points-based system allows employees to cash in points they earn for perks such as time off or gift cards. Even something as simple as a “thank you” note left at an employee’s workstation can be a powerful reminder that what he or she does every day matters to the organization. There are countless other ideas that can be used to build a successful employee recognition program. The following guide lists many of them. Take a look and see if any of these ideas might work well for your employees.

20 Creative (And Affordable) Ideas For Employee Recognition created by Point Recognition

Kelly Chesterson is Vice President of Operations for Point Recognition. Chesterson holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Baldwin-Wallace College and is a Certified Engagement Practitioner. She has worked in the reward and recognition industry for more than eight years.