What is Recognition?
Employee Recognition is the open acknowledgment and expressed appreciation for the contribution an employee makes to their organization, team, co-workers, or clients. Recognition can range from a thank you email to a shout-out at the all-staff meeting to an award. Employee Recognition is a powerful way to improve employee engagement, increase productivity, reduce turnover, boost morale, and build connections. Employee Recognition is also a great way to allow for growth opportunities by offering employee development and cross-training.
As you work towards fostering a culture of appreciation and recognition within your department, consider the following success factors:
- Timely: Recognition should occur during or immediately after a specific positive action/behavior. Look for opportunities to highlight employee accomplishments, publicly or privately, informally or formally, when they happen, rather than by some predetermined schedule.
- Sincere: Ensure that your recognition reflects a genuine expression of appreciation. Be authentic, and only communicate what you truly mean.
- Relevant: Ensure that the praise is proportionate to the accomplishment, with the level of recognition matching the significance of the achievement.
- Meaningful: Recognition should consistently reflect the university's mission and values while considering the individual's preferences. Ask about their preferred method of acknowledgment or employ a variety of approaches to ensure their efforts are recognized thoughtfully.
- Specific: Tie the recognition to a particular behavior or action. Clearly and concisely express the praised achievement.
Explore our guide by clicking here to learn how you can start recognizing your employees.​
​Questions? Contact Talent Development at talentdev@tulane.edu.