Recognition helps workers see that their company values them and that they contribute to the success of their team and the organisation as a whole. With remote workers there may be less opportunities for a spontaneous well done or fist pump, so to keep remote workers engaged and motivated, a recognition focused culture is essential.
A 2020 survey from Ultimate Software stated remote workers are nearly twice as likely as in-office staff to feel “frequently misunderstood or misinterpreted”, resulting in feelings of isolation and detachment. Further research from The REEI showed feeling valued and dedicating time to recognising the contributions of others had the largest effect on a workers’ sense of belonging and in overcoming isolation. Providing your team with platforms to recognise and praise others is going to have a positive impact on business performance and staff retention.
It is simply human nature to desire acceptance and gratitude. Oprah Winfrey explained that after interviewing 37,000 people, whether it be someone who committed a terrible crime, a US President or a global music superstar like Beyonce, they all asked the same thing after the interview, “was that okay?”, or, “how did I do?”. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have achieved, we all want to be appreciated and know we are doing okay. So whether employees work in an office or remotely, those who feel valued are less likely to leave, are more productive, and go the extra mile for customers.
And we are not talking about monetary recognition in the form of pay rises or promotions. According to Harvard Business Review, gratitude makes people feel valued and positive recognition has been shown to mitigate the negative effects of stress on employee performance. Simple actions, such as a verbal acknowledgement of work in progress can be a big motivator to push on and deliver their best work. Scientists are now revealing that verbal affirmations are processed in the brain in a similar way to financial rewards. Genuine, timely and accurate public recognition of a job well done has a positive impact on the individual receiving the praise, and crucially, on their watching peers too. For remote or home workers this takes on heightened importance as they miss out on an in office informal "well done".
In addition, many remote and hybrid workers find a “comfort zone” of acceptable performance. Knowing they will be recognised for their improved performance pushes employees to strive for the next level. Recognition can be performance updates where peers can like and comment, a video message to say “well done” or a company announcement about a specific achievement. All of these help remote workers to feel valued, motivated and part of a thriving business.
Here are 3 key principles when providing recognition
- Be timely - It is important that the recognition is provided in the moment or shortly after
- Be specific - Provide the specific accomplishment the person achieved and the positive impact this has
- Be fair - Make sure everyone gets recognition, not just those who shout the loudest
BuzzHubs is a software platform for businesses that want to focus on performance and increasing productivity through an engaged team of workers, whether they work on the office, remotely or hybrid. The messaging hub allows instant communication and collaboration between employees while the central hub is the focal point for recognition and praise. Managers and workers can quickly and easily create posts and recognise individual or team achievements. Colleagues can then like and comment on posts to create a positive environment where workers are connected and valued, regardless of where they are located. BuzzHubs then takes recognition to the next level by providing Breaking News headlines of the days biggest stories, maximising the positive impact and bringing people together.
Behind all this sits the BuzzHubs Artificial Intelligence engine. Continually checking for achievements, increases in performance or simply a reason to appreciate someone, it ensures no-one gets missed with managers pinged a notification and encouragement to recognise a worker. This allows managers to focus on leading their teams, with recognition wizardry working away for them in the background ensuring the recognition is timely, specific and fair.
Build the remote or hybrid team of your dreams and find out more at www.buzzhubs.com
Sources - Roico.com, Harvard Business Review, Ultimate Software, REEI
