Most employee rewards programs solely focus on what the employee gets as a reward, not how it is given. Sure, it's great to give your team members gifts, but the impact doesn't last long. Give a team member a gift card or t-shirt and eventually most employees will just expect it. There is so much more to rewarding employees than simply giving them things - it is about genuinely showing them your appreciation for their hard work, which greatly improves employee engagement. Exciting new tech, such as employee engagement and recognition software Motivosity, offers employers a way to create this engagement naturally.
Motivosity's approach to rewarding employees is focused on how to make employees happier at work. It is important for teams of all sizes to create an environment of gratitude and connectedness because it improves engagement and retention. Smaller businesses have some advantages in making this happen because of the more intimate setting in which employees work. However, for any sized company itit can present a challenge to make employees feel like they are more than just another cog in the machine.
Forming engagement in the workplace
Too many businesses mix up the concepts of recognizing and engaging their employees. Recognition is essential - employers must show their employees that they appreciate their work and are not overlooking them - but this is not the "end all, be all". Engagement makes each team member feel motivated, helps them better understand their role and contribution to the company, and inspires them to do their best work. Creating engagement is the way to ensure that the workplace is healthy in the long run.
One of the main benefits in creating engagement is the greater feeling of community within the workplace. "Every employee wants to feel like they belong in their workplace," explains Scott Johnson, Founder of Motivosity. "Allowing employees to feel like they belong in the workplace will connect employees with one another - and their employer - creating an environment that is much more conducive to good work being done."
However, it is just as important to recognize the employee for their contributions when they do that good work. Employers should create a positive, supportive workplace that not only encourages their employees to do great things, but recognizes them for the great work they do. Showing gratitude through tangible rewards is nice, but combining those tangible rewards with a meaningful appreciation is what will make employees feel genuinely valued.. Studies have repeatedly shown that compensation is not the most important aspect of employee performance. A simple "thank you" takes very little time, but telling your employees how much they mean to you and your business will motivate them in ways that profoundly impacts how they feel about being at work.
How leaders can build workplace engagement
Leaders and managers are arguably the most crucial piece for successfully implementing these programs. After all, managers are tasked with the productivity of all employees on their team. However, the traditional managerial approach more often resembles micromanagement than true leadership. An effective recognition program should be centered around the idea that managers are another part of the team, and should support each other and their employees.
Programs like Motivosity aim to empower employers with the tools and technology they need to create this culture of gratitude and build employee engagement. Plenty of software can offer the basics of an employee recognition program - coordinating ways for employees to receive gifts, a thank you widget, and the like - but employers need the ability to really change the existing culture..
Don't overcomplicate your approach:, the most important thing an employer can do to make their employees feel more valued is to connect with them. Theoretical knowledge is great, but the best way to find out what is really important to an employee is to hear it from the source. This will help them feel "seen", which will absolutely lead to better engagement.
"Connectivity is key in today's workplace," says Naveen Bhateja, EVP and Chief People Officer at Medidata. "Leaders must prioritize human-centric strategies to achieve connectivity in the digital era."
Modern employee rewards programs must move past the idea of physical incentives and find deeper, more impactful ways to motivate employees. Some businesses think that instating a new program to reward employees is enough to create engagement, but recognition is less about what is given and more about how it is given.
"Creating employee engagement is all about being genuine," asserts Johnson. "If you are genuine in showing your gratitude to your employees, your workplace will become a much healthier and more supportive environment."
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of techtimes.com
