What a wonderfully busy month it has been at Award & Sign- we’ve been doing a lot of exciting things! Just last Friday several of our team members attended a very inspiring event hosted by the TiE Rockies of Colorado. This global organization is focused on supporting entrepreneurs worldwide — bringing together experienced and aspiring business owners for networking and educational events. Barbara Brannen, a charter member of the Colorado chapter, spoke about the importance of Heartfelt Recognition in the workplace. As this is one of the simplest and most overlooked types of Employee Recognition, we thought it would be a good place for us to start this week!
So what exactly is Heartfelt Recognition and how can it benefit your business? Brannen describes this type of recognition as one that “unlocks a deeper part of the heart” to make the recipient feel changed. Heartfelt Recognition is given spontaneously or in the moment, and it comes from a genuine desire to make someone feel appreciated for a job well done. There are no rules or guidelines for this type of appreciation: no limits on the ways or number of times it can be earned. Heartfelt recognition can be given by a boss to an employee, by an employee to a boss or even exchanged between coworkers.
To illustrate this premise, Brannen described a Heartfelt Recognition program entitled “Apple of Our Eye” that she created for a company several years ago. The idea was simple — a large bowl was filled with small embroidered apple stickers and placed in the Human Resources department. The stickers were symbols of recognition: small tokens of appreciation that could be given or received at any time. Anyone could give our or receive the stickers. Spontaneous + Frequent + Simple= Heartfelt Recognition. The success of the program was immeasurable, and the company created a newsletter called “Applesauce” to recount tales of memorable apple exchanges.
Now, why utilize Heartfelt Recognition within your own workplace? Brannen provided a very simple and concise response to that question with this clever formula:
#1 Recognition = Job Satisfaction
#2 Job Satisfaction = Happiness
#3 Happiness = Productivity
People who feel appreciated are going to be happier. That happiness will lead to more productivity, which in turn will generate more success for your organization. It’s as easy as 1-2-3; all you have to do is implement the first step.
Last week we discussed the WHY, and now you have a very simple and easy to follow HOW in regard to utilizing Employee Recognition. Simply think of a small token of appreciation you can put in your pocket this week and call one of our Recognition Consultants at Award & Sign to discuss the products featured within this post. Regardless of the item(s) you choose, the important thing is that the recognition stems from the heart. As Brennan put it:
#1 Look for it (individuals/actions to recognize)
#2 Do it (recognize the individual/action)
#3 Feel it (recognize from your heart)
Again it’s as easy as 1-2-3. So let’s get moving and start recognizing! We would LOVE to hear about how you used Heartfelt Recognition within your workplace/daily life. Feel free to post ideas and stories in the comments section below. We’ll see you next Monday for a continued discussion on other types of Employee Recognition. Have a great week!
Written by: Jamie Fritz
