Incentive - September 2008 - (Page 80) MOTIVATION @ WORK The Character Connection How doing the right thing will lead to the right team H CHRISTI L. GIBSON The executive director of Recognition Professionals International, formerly known as National Association for Employee Recognition (NAER), has been with RPI since 2001, and has been published in newspapers and periodicals and interviewed on both ABC and FOX News She can be reached via e-mail at Christi@recognition.org yatt is a highly recognizable and trusted name in the hospitality industry. So when I learned of an employee faced with a personal crisis, I knew with Hyatt’s vast cultural and geographic diversity, they could have inadvertently turned their back on this one employee, as they were so involved in helping others. But they didn’t. When Hyatt learned of one female worker faced with a serious “sandwich” crisis— caring for her children and an elderly parent—they gave her the time and the freedom to take care of her responsibilities and take care of herself. They allowed her this, and what did they get in return? They got one of the most loyal employees they could ever hope for. She indicated to me she would never leave Hyatt. Never. That isn’t just a company embracing employee recognition; it is also embracing company character. And, character counts because it brings loyalty. Loyalty isn’t mindless following—it is the result of meaningful relationships that produce two-sided wins. It is driven by character—which is decided every single day, based on decisions made for every single operation. Your workforce knows if you are a company driven by profits only or a company driven by profits plus integrity. Both will help you grow in the short term, but only the latter will help you grow and thrive in the short and long term. In Roy Saunderson’s new book, Giving the Real Recognition Way (published by Recognition Management Institute, available for bulk sales at www.realrecognition.com), Roy outlines three rules to follow in the treatment of employees: Rule 1: Know Them Well Rule 2: Build Positive Relationships Rule 3: Show Caring Concern So how do companies do this? One way is to follow established standards set by a recognized organization. Using RPI’s Best Practice Standards, start by building a solid recognition strategy, which is covered in the 2008 RPI Best Practice white papers and available at www.recognition.org. These detail the latest employee recognition practices and initiatives of winning companies. Saunderson says to always remember that “real” recognition “is a feeling, [and] instilling pride in the workplace is a constant, consistent practice of stating and reminding what an organization values.” In this way pride extends from the people 80 | Incentive | September 2008 | incentivemag.com http://www.realrecognition.com http://www.recognition.org http://incentivemag.com
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