The Importance Of Recognizing Staff For Job Well Done

A reader contacted me asking about how they can motivate their workers to show up everyday and do the work as assigned, all the while maintaining efficiencies and budgets.

In a prior article, I listed money as the prime mover in most employees showing up for work and putting up with the hassles of a the day to day grind. We are simply answering the eternal question: WIIFM or What's In It For Me?

After base pay, cash bonuses, gift cards, stock options, paid days off, free or subsidized insurance plans and other cash incentives all play a part in motivating workers to show up and provide quality work. This type of incentive program can recognize daily attendance, clocking in on time, obeying company policies regarding safety, being recognized by a customer for quality work, scoring well on Quality Control inspections and many other ways that should be tailored to achieve the desired outcomes. Although reprimands are sometimes necessary it is far more productive to recognize the small things our workers do each day that, when combine, result in satisfied customers with clean buildings.

Most workers who realize that their job meets their financial needs and feel they are being fairly compensated, they then go on to other areas that have to do with quality of work including recognition and opportunities for advancement. This recognition can be as simple as a hand written thank you note on personal stationary recognizing their anniversary or perhaps their birthday, wedding anniversary or some other event that means a lot to them.

If you do not have a company newsletter, you should give serious consideration to starting one that lists staff anniversaries or birthdays. It really pays to have their picture as well. The costs for such a publication is usually much less than the benefits in morale and long term improvements.

We will continue this analysis in a future article.

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean...

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.