The holidays are quickly approaching. You know, the time when we all patiently wait for the season’s hottest gifts to arrive at our doorstep…kidding! While this time of the year should drive us to show extra appreciation for the important people in our lives, it can be easy to forget.
I worked in HR at an extremely fast paced agency several years ago. And I remember a time when we won several new clients at once– putting us in the middle of what the agency called a “hiring heatwave.”
We needed to bring on nearly 70 people with little time to spare. The agency only had a few hundred employees at the time, so this was a significant growth sprint. Plus, we were a small, lean HR team– which required us to shift all priorities to hiring.
Fast forward a few months later. After working nonstop, our HR team had exceeded expectations and successfully staffed the agency up. It was tough. There were lots of early days and late nights. We felt constant pressure from hiring managers AND ourselves. We refused to compromise on our hiring quality, which meant no corner cutting.
Despite all of this, we received zero recognition. It wasn’t intentional…my boss was great. We were just stuck in the moment, continuing to churn out work and operate at 200% without stopping to realize all the success we’d achieved.
One night, the lack of recognition made me so frustrated that I looked at my boss and said, “Stop and smell the roses!” This simple phrase completely shook him. He suddenly realized he’d been going, going, going without thanking, encouraging or rewarding his team. And he sincerely appreciated the reminder.
That was 10 years ago, and he and I still talk about the importance of stopping to smell the roses to this day.
Rewarding and recognizing employees isn’t a part of the job description. But it’s one of the most important things we can do as leaders. If you’re not motivating your team, they’re going to leave.
We’ve all heard that employees don’t leave companies– they leave managers. While this is a bit subjective, if employees don’t feel valued or recognized for the work they do on a regular, consistent basis, their days are likely numbered.
Not only is recognizing hard work important. It’s rewarding and simple. It requires paying attention, taking a step back and being intentional.
5 easy ways to recognize your employee for a job well done:
- Verbal Recognition: A simple “thank you” goes a long way. Acknowledge your employee’s hard work in team meetings and in private conversations. It will make them feel appreciated and valued.
- Extra Responsibility: Offer an opportunity to take on a new project, lead a task force, or participate in a cross-functional team. This can also be a great way to challenge them and help them grow in their role.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: If feasible, offer flexible work arrangements such as the ability to work from home, to adjust their work hours, or to take time off when needed. This can help employees maintain a better work-life balance. Award an extra vacation day or tell them to head out early on Friday afternoon.
- Gift Cards or Small Tokens: Give small, thoughtful gifts or gift cards to your employees as a token of appreciation. These could be for a favorite coffee shop, bookstore, or online retailer.
- Professional Development Opportunities: Invest in your employees’ growth by offering access to training courses, workshops, or conferences relevant to their role and career aspirations. This not only rewards them but also helps them develop professionally.
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s too easy to get caught up in the pursuit of goals and deadlines. We tend to lose sight of the little moments that make life, work and everything in between truly meaningful.
Giving thanks and recognition is not just a formality– it’s a fundamental aspect of leadership that motivates your people and creates a bond with an organization’s most valuable asset: its people.
As the holiday season approaches, let’s make it a habit to embrace this practice– not just annually, but on a regular basis. After all, it’s in these small, yet impactful gestures that we feel truly fulfilled. That’s why you shouldn’t forget to stop and smell the roses!
Want to put employee recognition on autopilot?
Meet MMR’s Bravo Board – an interactive Google Sheet template that helps you:
- Easily create a quarterly employee recognition program.
- Customize + track your kudo efforts for each employee.
- Set + monitor program goals, rewards, and budgets.
- Score new ideas for showing appreciation + help bring them to life.
