Recognition Tips

ARE YOU MAKING THE MOST OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES?

The act of recognizing colleagues is a special opportunity to highlight, connect, and bond with another person or group of people. Within the work environment, there are very few occasions in which we encounter opportunities to stop and reflect. These stopping points give us an opportunity to make a connection with someone and take the time to pause and reflect on what they have done to better the company. You must put some thought into how you can make the most of them.

HOW TO CONVEY AN APPROPRIATE MESSAGE OF RECOGNITION.

Be personal; be yourself; be sincere.
Everyone feels they've contributed something; given a little thought, you can find out what this is. What may seem a chore to you may be very important to the recipient, and you can focus on that!
Make it a positive, cheerful occasion that evokes a positive feeling of accomplishment from the recipient.
Pick a time that avoids unusual stress or time limitations.
Present in a place away from the day to day operations of the job.
Invite friends and associates who know the recipient well to join in the presentation moment.
Talk to the recipient in a personal way that's comfortable for you, yet shows an understanding of the recipient's feelings.

INCLUDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMMEDIATE DEPARTMENT GOALS SUCH AS:

Note suggestions the colleague made in improving department operation and performance.
Commend extra time spent on finishing a job or keeping on top of on-going workload.
Applaud personal sacrifices made to provide one-time or day-to-day support.
Compliment a positive attitude that makes fellow workers feel like part of a team.

HSHS Recognition Best Practices:

How do you like to be recognized?

Tell your leader and fellow colleagues how you prefer to be recognized (i.e. public acknowledgement, private conversation, etc.).

Make it a habit.

Make recognition a regular part of your routine as opposed to a one-time event. The more you recognize your fellow colleagues and leaders, the more likely they are to feel appreciated. Try to recognize one another on a weekly basis if possible or a monthly basis at a minimum. The recognition can be something small, like thanking them for their work on a certain project or helping a team member with a challenge. The HSHS Appreciation Hub E-cards would be a great tool to regularly recognize colleagues or leaders.

Be specific and personal.

Rather than simply saying “good job,” be specific about what the colleague or leader did to earn recognition. Explain the impact they made on you, on their team and HSHS. Give measurable results, if you can, to give it more meaning.

Provide recognition at random intervals.

Recognition that is unexpected can sometimes be more meaningful. Consider giving compliments, praise and thanks at random times or at other unexpected moments — unrelated to any event or organized recognition.

Local department colleague recognition wall or Teams channel.

As a department or team, consider setting up a board or dedicating a wall where everyone shares messages of appreciation toward each other. Not only will this inspire team members who have been recognized to maintain their great work, but it also can challenge others to increase their efforts so they can receive praise too.