More than two-thirds of employees asked in a recent survey said that they would be more inclined to work harder if they received some form of recognition from their bosses.

The survey, conducted by Officevibe, found that the majority of staff they spoke to were unhappy with the level of recognition and feedback they had received from their employers. A staggering 69% indicated that they were lacking in recognition, adding that their productivity and motivation would increase should they feel as though they were recognised.

As staff turnover rates rise and more and more workers find themselves more willing to pursue other opportunities, employers mustn't allow staff to feel as though they are being taken for granted. That seems to be exactly what is happening, however.

Recognising Staff

That same report also suggests that managers do feel as though they are recognising staff, with 58% stating that they supply sufficient feedback to their staff. This clearly indicates a mismatch between employers and employees.

Feedback and recognition are not the same. Feedback can be mostly negative, highlighting areas where employees struggle. If this does not come with some form of positive feedback, this can harm the employee's confidence, motivation, and productivity.

Recognition is when an employee is recognised for a job well done, or for reaching a significant milestone such as a long service award. It's positive and it makes the member of staff feel valued, instilling their importance to the company.

How to Recognise Staff

How companies recognise their staff is dependent on the culture of the business, as well as the significance of the achievement. For example, a salesperson smashing their annual target halfway through the year deserves to be shouted from the rooftops, while a more humble accomplishment probably doesn't warrant a company-wide address - but still deserves recognition all the same.

It also comes down to the member of staff being recognised. If they are shy and retiring, they may not appreciate a public song and dance as much as extroverted, loud individuals might. This is where it is important to make a judgement call based on your knowledge of the person.

Awards are always nice, but personalised gifts often make for a more suitable means of recognition. For example, engraved whiskey glasses make for a nice retirement present or leaving gift as it is something that requires a little extra thought.

When to Recognise Staff

The trick is to find the sweet spot between never recognising staff, so they feel undervalued, and offering recognition to the point that it has lost all meaning. Drawing up, and agreeing to, a recognition and rewards strategy solves a lot of questions. It also safeguards against claims of favouritism, unintentionally recognising staff differently for the same achievement.

When staff understand there is a rewards strategy in place, this motivates them to achieve targets to be recognised in the agreed manner. When they see colleagues receive recognition, this also provides motivation.

With the correct level of recognition, staff productivity and retention rates improve as motivated employees go the extra mile.