The theory is simple. A recognized, appreciated employee is a satisfied, productive employee. So how does this theory translate to reality?

Gallup finds that only one in every three American employees feels recognized for their work in a typical week. In a survey of 2.5 million workers, Sirota Consulting found just 51% of employees feel satisfied with the recognition they receive after a job well done. 

One factor behind the praise scarcity in the workforce is the circulation of celebration misconceptions. Familiar anecdotes include tales of employees who go above and beyond the call of duty–establishing an unrealistic expectation for what is deserving of praise. Furthermore, it sets a precedent that the only path to appreciation is to pledge your allegiance to the job and sacrifice your free time for the sake of the organization. 

It is commonly misconceived that recognition should come from the top. We disagree–peer-to-peer appreciation is so undervalued compared to recognition from leadership. Our coworkers hold a deep understanding of the day-to-day obstacles and meticulous processes on the pathway to success. Their acknowledgment can have positive impacts on performance, productivity, and culture. 

To improve workplace celebration, we must celebrate our coworkers representing the company’s values and desired culture. We believe that our coworkers deserve recognition for doing their jobs well without sacrificing their work-life boundaries. 

Here are some examples (with a few supporting comments from our Cultivators) of how you can start celebrating your internal workplace community:

Innovation Fails

Scientists will tell you that a failed test is still not a failure because you learn something from it. A solid & healthy workplace culture means that failure is not to be feared. Even a failed idea provides unique learning opportunities. Let’s celebrate the innovators for their attempts (and not just the people who succeed). By doing this, you can encourage more people to bring their new ideas to life. 

Positive Attitude

Never underestimate the value of a positive attitude on your team. If you have a coworker who always brings positivity to the table, no matter how bad the day or the outlook appears, show your appreciation by publicly thanking them in your workplace community. 

Helpful Teammates

Going above and beyond doesn’t have to mean giving up your nights and weekends. Think about the person who takes a few extra minutes to help you, even though it’s not their job to do so. 

Chat Room Champion

Celebrate the chatters who keep the workplace community alive. If your company connects via Microsoft Teams, Slack, Discord, or something similar, you probably recognize a few names who are always active in chat. These people help keep your internal workplace community thriving and serve as connectors and influencers within the organization. Celebrate them for helping answer questions, direct traffic, responding to requests, promoting your project, etc. 

Real-Time “Good Jobs”

A completed task is a completed task, no matter how small. Whether within your team or in a public forum, don’t hesitate to tag someone to say, “congratulations on completing [x].” 

Formal Recognition

Sometimes, the first step is the nomination. Become familiar with all of the ways that people can receive official awards and recognition within your organization and beyond. Many award organizers will notify nominees, so whether your colleague wins the ultimate prize or not, they will know that the people in their network think they are worthy of praise. With recession-induced budget cuts on the rise, nominating a team member for an award is also a cost-effective way to recognize their work.

The good news is that our own awards, Cultivator of the Year and Cultivator Community of the Year are open for nominees. Nominate a person or community that has made a difference for you and your company this year…for free! We’ll inform all nominees of their nomination and will announce winners at our upcoming conference CultivatorCon. Want to get started?

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