As a thought leader, author, educator, and change leadership practitioner, I write a weekly article that benefits leaders who want to improve their organizations using elements of my Humanist Manufacturing framework.
Last week we looked at the third essential element of becoming a high-performing company of rewarding goal progress. When employees receive authentic recognition for their contributions to the organization, their experiences are positive, leading to increased satisfaction and engagement. Furthermore, productivity and profitability rise, so we will explore various ways to recognize goal achievement.
If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes. — Andrew Carnegie
Given the financial success of Carnegie, a late 19th-century Scottish-American industrialist, modern-day business leaders should consider his advice on employee happiness that still applies today. A study by Workhuman and Gallup looked at thousands of employees across the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland to understand what recognition means to them. Additionally, they asked whether it was shared authentically, equitably, and timely and how it impacted their attitudes toward life and work. The results are startling to include a 10,000-employee company that can save $16.1 million annually by developing a culture of recognition. Yet it was found that it was not a significant strategy priority for eighty-one percent of leaders and that seventy-three percent of leaders did not fund employee recognition programs.
Recent events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have shown evidence of the need to create an environment where they feel engaged and motivated to do their best. When a recognition environment exists, the Workhuman/Gallup research results found that employees were:
• Seventy-three percent less likely or very often to feel burnout
• Unlikely to explore other job opportunities 56% of the time
• Thriving in their life for 44% of them
• Four times more likely to suggest their employer to family and friends
• Having a five times higher connection to the organization's culture
• Four times more likely to have active employee engagement
Leadership must recognize the importance of human capital and commit to creating a desirable work environment that appeals to attracting and retaining a high-caliber workforce if they want to remain competitive.
Demonstrating commitment and investment in employees allows the opportunity to leverage a fuller force of human power in the workplace. Recognition for goal achievement is a way to show employees that leadership values them and desires them to feel connected to work for a caring organization. Various methods to recognize goal achievement include:
• Verbal praise - Offer genuine and specific verbal praise to the individual in front of their peers or in private
• Written notes or emails - Send a personalized thank-you note or email to acknowledge the individual's hard work and successful goal accomplishment
• Public acknowledgment - If appropriate, recognize the achievement publicly during team meetings, company gatherings, or social media platforms
• Celebratory events - Organize a small celebration like a team lunch, happy hour, or cake-cutting ceremony to commemorate the achievement
• Additional responsibilities - Show trust and confidence in the individual's abilities by offering them new challenges or projects related to their achievements
• Personalized plaque or trophy - Create a plaque or trophy engraved with the individual's name and the achievement date
• Feature on company communication - Highlight their achievement in company newsletters, intranets, or bulletin boards
• Peer recognition - Encourage their colleagues to recognize and congratulate them for their accomplishment
• Executive or managerial acknowledgment - Have top-level executives or managers personally congratulate the individual for their achievement
• Continuous feedback - Provide ongoing feedback and constructive criticism to support further development and success
• Mentorship or sponsorship - Offer mentorship or sponsorships for their future projects and goals
To continue employee happiness, as Carnegie suggests, those who succeed in goal achievement should be given new opportunities that command their thoughts, liberates their energy, and inspires them with hope. Regular and genuine goal achievement recognition is vital in motivating organization members to reach new heights, leading to personal satisfaction and increasing company success.
Authentic recognition of employees contributes to a positive perspective of their organization, resulting in increased satisfaction and engagement. Demonstrating commitment and investment in employees allows the opportunity to leverage a fuller force of human power in the workplace. Furthermore, productivity and profitability rise when providing genuine recognition of goal achievement.
Organizations interested in exploring the benefits and opportunities of goal recognition can read the Workhuman/Gallup Unleashing the Human Element at Work: Transforming Workplaces Through Recognition report. The content includes detailed findings of unpacking workplace recognition, their five pillars of recognition, investing in recognition, and driving impact through recognition. There is also a recommendation for five leadership steps.
I have received several handwritten notes expressing appreciation for my work at various times in my academic studies or the workplace. I have saved each written from what I saw as a perspective of authenticity. A reminder that I need to carry out the same act of gratitude for those who have had a similar impact on me.
Next week's blog will shift to a review of the essential element of clearly defined objectives and goals integral to becoming a humanist manufacturing organization.
To learn more about our work or read more blog posts, visit emmanuelstratgicsustainability.com.
I encourage you to read my book Humanist Manufacturing: A Humanitarian Approach to Excellence in High-Impact Plant Operations. The paperback and eBook versions are now available at Amazon and many other booksellers. You can also view the Humanist Manufacturing Book Launch to gain additional insight into the Humanist Manufacturing framework.
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