Recognize!
The holiday season is upon us — a
time of year when we recognize those in our personal lives we are thankful for.
It is also a great time to think about recognizing those in our work
life. Things
can get so busy during the year that we forget to let those we work with know
how much we value their contributions. That is why having a Recognition
Plan can be so valuable.
Those that work in our after school
programs, and with our most vulnerable youth, really benefit from ongoing
support and recognition to feel engaged in the program and get through
challenges. The best thinking and research in this area indicates
effective recognition should:
- Have both an individual and team component
- Be aligned with organizational goals and values
- Increase employee engagement
- Create a positive work environment
- Reward innovation, attitude and performance
- Improve employee retention
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| At all ages we need rewards, high fives and positive reinforcement. |
Personal Approaches
Write a personal note to a staff
member who has done something great, thoughtful, or supportive. It is so simple but often is the
most meaningful. I remind myself to be specific about what I am thankful
for and to connect it to our vision of supporting student success.
Create your own personal certificate
to give to those who have an achievement, present at a meeting, or reach a
certain goal.
I got this idea from our Superintendent who gives out her own award, which
staff often post on their walls with pride.
Invite an employee to coffee or
lunch to celebrate an accomplishment. This provides some one-on-one time to acknowledge the
accomplishment and make a personal connection and explore future career steps.
Find out what the staff person
enjoys and get a gift that aligns with their interests/strengths. This can run the gamut but it is
best when connected to the vision. As an example, I got a personalized
coach whistle to thank a staff person who loves sports and organized a sports
league in our after school program.
Provide, as a reward, opportunities
for staff development to support career aspirations. I have offered a registration
to the BOOST conference to staff who attain certain goals.
Honor those exhibiting best
practices.
This recognizes individual accomplishments and reaffirms specific program
strategies and elements you want to see in your program.
Public Honors
Include appreciations at every staff
meeting. At
our staff meetings, we always conclude with an opportunity for staff to
recognize each other.
Honor a Staff Member of the Month, create
a "Catch Inspiration" Award to highlight inspirational staff/stories,
or create a staff nominated "Wall of Fame" and post on social
media. We have done a variety of these
types of recognition strategies, usually focusing on our Facebook page, blog
and newsletter. It is a great public recognition that the honoree can
send to their families and friends.
Honor years of service along with
personal milestones. This is an annual celebration at
my organization. However you celebrate
it, the recognition of time given to the organization is an important and
motivating right of passage.
Honor innovation with a special
award where the winner can challenge you to do something new. This is a great way to get more
deeply involved with staff and it is fun and motivating too.
Team Rewards
Bring a care package to staff teams
that have done great work, made it through a challenging time, or reached a
milestone. We
honor school site teams with care packages and gifts throughout the year in
honor of accomplishments, with thanks for a job well done, and to appreciate
the strength shown in getting through challenging times.
Organize a party to appreciate staff
and provide time for personal connections. We have a committee that focuses on creating social
opportunities and other strategies to support a positive workplace. It is
great to get the whole organization involved and owning recognition—it
encourages a culture of appreciation.
Some other Ideas
- Have staff fill out a "Recognition Preference Profile" so you know what type of recognition is preferred.
- Keep an inventory of recognition strategies and what works well (or not).
I hope some of these ideas spur your
thinking about how to support, recognize, and honor those who do this necessary
work.
Recognize!
Originally posted on the BOOST Breakfast Club Blog, http://www.boostcollaborative.com/breakfastclub
