Business Development Jaime Bongiorno, Business Development Coordinator

Recognizing Employee Milestones

Lee Iacocca, author and former President and CEO of Chrysler, said “Management is nothing more than motivating other people.”  Employees are driven to excel by motivation.  Individual motivation builds team motivation.  Team motivation, one group of diverse talents working towards the same goal, leads to organizational success.  By implementing reward and recognition systems and celebrating employee accomplishments and milestones, managers motivate their people and nurture a loyal environment and a company’s success. 

Recognition systems are ingrained in our culture and development.  We grow up receiving trophies, ribbons, and awards – recognition.  In the workplace, it is natural to want a success to be acknowledged.  Acknowledgement is the fuel that keeps an employee going and achieving, every day. 

Motivation can be as simple as saying, “good work”, or it can be financial awards and promotion.  But good work does not speak for itself.  We are taught not to toot our own horn, so it’s up to employers to recognize an accomplishment and make note of it.

Rewards and recognition systems are different.  While reward of an accomplishment usually means a financial gain to the employee, a recognition system can be just as effective, without the cost to the company.  A financial bonus awarded to an individual, or a team or division, is typical of a reward program.  A recognition system, on the other hand, notes a job well done and can be a key motivator to those seeking appreciation for their extra efforts.  A special luncheon, allowing late arrival or early dismissal, or working from home, are a few types of recognition that do not break the bank.

The keys to developing either program are as follows: [1]

• Identification of company or group goals that the reward or recognition system will support
• Identification of the desired employee performance or behaviors that will reinforce the company’s goals
• Determination of key measurements of the performance or behavior, based on the individual or group’s previous achievements
• Determination of appropriate rewards
• Communication of program to employees

Individual or company accomplishments can provide an ideal opportunity to implement reward and recognition systems.  Anniversaries, mergers, acquisitions, growth or sales goals, or company milestones make it unique in offering positive reinforcement.  However, a standardized recognition system is less effective without thought to each individual.  Teams may be diverse in gender, age, training, race, and upbringing and thought should be given to these differences when developing a reward or recognition system.

Motivating a diverse group of people and nurturing a loyal environment helps companies to be successful.  Identifying a milestone to implement a reward or recognition system and determining the behaviors that will be rewarded is can move companies closer to their goals. 

[1] Hillstrom, K. and Hillstrom, L., eds.  (2002).  Employee Reward and Recognition Systems.  Encyclopedia of Small Business: Gale Group, Inc.  Retrieved April 3, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www.enotes.com/small-business-encyclopedia/employee-reward-recognition-systems

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