By JP Maroney
Organization’s desiring to improve employee satisfaction need a system in place which consistently rewards employee achievements. I’m always surprised how few organizations have such a system.
Three key approaches to rewarding excellence and improving employee satisfaction include: appreciation, recognition, and compensation.
APPRECIATION
Many times, positive behaviors and achievements are not acknowledged by leadership, so people don’t know whether or not they are doing a good job. I recently had an employee of an organization tell me, “The only time we ever hear anything from management is when we do something wrong.â€
Employers can improve employee satisfaction levels by rewarding employees with personal attention; a pat on the back, a hand-written note, or a quick comment in the hall.
When showing appreciation, be specific. Instead of just saying, “We really are grateful for the good job you do around here,†the approach might be, “I really appreciate how you handled the Franklin Industries account last week when we had to get their rush order out late Friday afternoon. Your effort really made a difference.†By being specific, the employer comes across as much more sincere, and the employee realizes their actions are truly being watched.
RECOGNITION
Many people will do for recognition what they will not do for money. Strange, but true. Some people are motivated by the opportunity to get their name on the wall, receive a trophy at an annual banquet, or see their name in the company newsletter. It gives them an “emotional payoff†for their actions.
Look for ways to recognize excellence in the workplace. Ring a bell every time an individual or team hits the production target. Put up posters with the photographs of team members who have had the most days without accidents. Give out awards for attendance records. Just do something. It is so inexpensive, yet highly effective.
COMPENSATION
Some people are motivated by money. In fact, most people, are motivated by money; at least for their basic needs. Compensation can come in the form of raises, performance bonuses, commissions, profit sharing, or any number of “extra benefits†like, automobiles, vacations, or other tangible items purchased and used as rewards.
I noticed an interesting program in a hotel where I recently stayed. They have a sophisticated system for rewarding employees based on customer feedback. Throughout the hotel, they have placed customer feedback forms and boxes for depositing the forms. When customers comment on the performance of a hotel employee, the employee accumulates points which can be used to purchase rewards like trips, gifts, and other incentives.
Whatever the chosen method, it is important to have a system in place which rewards people’s efforts with some type of additional compensation. Not every person is motivated by the same factor, or combination of factors. Offering appreciation, recognition, AND compensation insures that the organization has something to contribute to the satisfaction of each employee.
(Note: this article is an excerpt from JP Maroney’s book, The Productivity Path: Your Roadmap For Improving Employee Performance. To learn more about this book, Click Here!)
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JP Maroney is a business growth strategist, best-selling author and award-winning speaker. Receive his FREE book, “5 Ways to Double or Triple Your Business” by visiting www.JPMaroney.com
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