Recognition is a powerful motivator because it makes your team feel valued.

When your team feel valued they are more likely to connect with you as their leader, connect to the organisation, be more productive and more engaged.

Great Managers Academy members learn dozens of ways to recognise and motivate their people but here are the top 16.

1. A Welcome Aboard Card for new starters, signed by everyone in the team

Don’t wait for people to leave to give them a card from everyone – give it to them when they start!

2. Tell your team members frequently “I know you can do it” or “I believe in you.”

Create a self-fulfilling prophecy – this must be sincere, or it will have the reverse effect.

3. Take one of your achievers to a Senior Team Meeting and recognise their efforts in front of your peers

Are some people going to feel awkward about this? Of course they are! But, if you could hear what they say about the experience at the family dinner table that night, it is worth a bit of squirming!

4. Make recognition a Team Activity

Get your team to identify what other team members do best.

Recognition does not have to be all about super high-achievers – you might have someone who is a quiet achiever and really dependable – make sure that quality is recognised too.

5. Give your team a stack of thank you cards and ask them to recognise others

Even those from different departments. You cannot be everywhere and see everything. It is amazing how supportive other teams will be when they get thanked in a sincere way!

6. Allow someone to call in “well” and have the day off

7. Print out and issue certificates for a “long lunch” (2-hour break)

Even better still, take them to lunch and celebrate!

8. Use an Achievement Logo on your business cards for high achievers who have received ongoing above & beyond awards

9. Use post-it notes to put hand-written comments or feedback about things done well

These can be put on their desk or on a report, or however you can get it to them – you will find that people will often keep these as a reminder.

10. Use a trophy or award of some sort that gets rotated to recognise great ideas, creative solutions and valuable input

11. Pitch in and help with the hard stuff

Demonstrate that you are a team player through recognising when it’s tough and helping them out

12. If things are “heating up” at deadline time, bring in some gelato or ice cream to cool things down – for some chill out time.

13. Hire a masseuse & provide a massage for your hard-working team members

14. Do something that benefits the team member personally - or their family

This will require some budget. For example:

• Babysitter

• Cleaner

• Car washer

• Send a hamper to their family.

On the higher end of the spending scale you could:

• Hire a chef to prepare a meal for them at home

• Rent their dream car for them for a week.

• Donate on their behalf to their favourite charity

• Gift vouchers or a Training course of their choice

15. Acknowledge Service Anniversaries

End of probation, 1yr, 3yrs (strategically you should check where the most of your turnover occurs)

16. Hold Events for achievements of major goals or milestones

Can be anything from a cup of tea and cake to a party or meal together. Alternatively, a team day out – barefoot bowls is popular. Always link these events to something meaningful!

If you, or your managers, could benefit from improved engagement and productivity, get in touch to learn more about the proven Great Managers Academy.