Always Recognize the Greatness Around You
Soliciting employee feedback is an excellent step to improving your culture. Still, it means nothing if you don’ t treat your employees well on a day-to-day basis. One of the most important things you can do to build a winning culture is to always recognize the greatness around you.
When it comes to recognizing your team, here are the basics:
Be specific, be relevant: Recognition is more meaningful when tied to a particular accomplishment or business objective. When recognizing the team, explain what the honor is for. This will help them connect what you are celebrating to the behavior you are describing.
Be timely: Recognition that arrives months after success isn’ t nearly as meaningful as immediate recognition. The longer it takes for you to recognize greatness, the less authentic your affirmations will seem to employees.
Adapt the recognition to the individual: Everyone has their preference or style for giving and receiving appreciation. Some prefer it to be public; others prefer it to be more private. Ask them.
Look out for the little things: While it’ s crucial to recognize significant accomplishments, everyday appreciation can motivate employees just as much, sometimes even more. For example, I send many handwritten notes and use conference or video calls to celebrate significant behaviors or results.
Connect to the bigger picture: Recognition helps team members see that their manager values their contribution to the team and company’ s success. It helps employees feel secure about their value to the company, motivating them to deliver great work continually. Regularly share news about the company’ s progress toward specific goals and explain how individual employee successes relate to the larger vision.
It’ s a Journey, Not Just a Goal
Building culture is a slow, deliberate process. You can’ t simply scatter seeds and expect fruit and flowers to spring up overnight. The evolution of a great culture requires considerable time and effort.
By placing your team front and center, taking the time to recognize their greatness, and solicit their feedback, you can nurture and grow your culture into one you can be proud of!
27TH NATIONAL RETAIL CONFERENCE & STORES ASIA EXPO 2021 AUGUST 12-13, 2021 23