HRO Today July/August 2017 - 33

Employee Recognition
1. Connection: Relationships and the ability to
communicate on a deeper level.
2. Nurturing: Mentorship of others and the giving and
receiving of compassionate service.
3. Meaning: Awareness of one's abilities and how they
matter to others.
4. Security: Feelings of confidence in one's surroundings
and job.
Room for improvement:
27%
of employees believe in
their organization's values.
Source: Gallup
employees' perceived connection between their work
and organizational success was seen when employees
" often " or " always " give, receive, and observe recognition.
In fact, 41 percent more employees in this group will
understand how their work contributes to the success of
the organization when compared to those who " never "
or " rarely " give, receive, and observe recognition.
Encouraging a culture of frequent employee recognition
helps employees understand how their work directly
impacts the greater good of the entire organization.
But generating recognition and purpose involve
more than identifying how a person impacts the
bottom line and recognizing their efforts in doing so.
Organizations need a clear definition of these words and
to demonstrate how their service/mission ties back to
fundamental human needs. Because regardless of where
they work, many people will value similar core principles,
some of which include:
5. Finances: The ability to save or spend and increase
one's own profit.
Companies can take part in helping their employees
find meaning in their jobs. Internal recognition efforts
can be shaped around the organization's appreciation
of employees , particularly when are reinforcing the
company's mission and clearly communicating how that
mission makes a meaningful difference in the world.
For example, an IT security company can recognize its
employees for creating or building on strong products
that protect customers from cyber attacks, tying the
recognition back into the company's overall mission of
making the world a safer place. Recognizing employees'
efforts in helping organizations fight off malware and
other cybersecurity threats helps fulfill employees' core
values of finding both meaning and security in life.
To help reinforce the core value of connection, companies
can recognize employees for teamwork, their ability to
form relationships with clients, and communication skills
under pressure. What's more, organizations can encourage
nurturing behaviors by recognizing employees of all
levels who take time to mentor other employees and are
willing to offer a helping hand when a department needs
assistance.
Reinforcing purpose helps employees more easily
connect and relate to the company's overall mission, and
recognition can emphasize that connection. But aligning
employees to a company's purpose is only a wish list item
if not put in motion. Continuous, intentional employee
recognition is critical part of the plan.
Gary Beckstrand is vice president of the O.C. Tanner Institute.
JULY/AUGUST 2017
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HRO Today July/August 2017

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