Think of the last time you worked your tail off on a project or task and accomplished it. Were you proud of what you did? Did someone tell you good job or give any kind of positive feedback on it? If no one recognized you, did it make it feel like less of an accomplishment?

Employee recognition refers to the act of acknowledging an individual or team’s behavior, performance, effort, and accomplishment that help the organizational goals and values. Recognition encourages employees to repeat good performances.

It is important for employers and leaders to understand the importance of recognition. Given below is a list of importance of employee recognition.

1. Employees who feel praised/valued often go on to achieve beyond expectations.
2. They are the ones with the highest level of motivation, productivity, and morale.
3. Recognition builds loyalty in the employees.
4. Recognition improves employee retention. Employees who feel appreciated are more likely to stay with the organization in the long run.
5. Employee recognition develops good communication between employer and employees.
6. Employee recognition strengthens the employee-organization relationship. It develops a sense of ownership in the employees.
7. Recognition increases engagement among the colleagues. Employees who feel appreciated are confident while the unrecognized employees tend to be reserved.
8. Recognition adds humanity in the workplace.
9. Recognition creates a way for direct feedback for individual and teams.
10. Recognition lowers stress and frustration and increases job satisfaction in employees.
11. Employees who feel praised and valued believe that they have career advancement opportunities.
12. Employees who feel valued would recommend their organization as a good working place to others.

While employee recognition is helpful in improving employees’ intrinsic motivation, its ultimate beneficiary is the organization. Employees with a high level of job satisfaction tend to stay with the organization for a longer time, reducing organization’s costs of interviewing, screening, recruiting, training, etc. Moreover, it helps the organization in building stronger employment brand.

With dozens of easy ways to recognize your team, it may be hard to believe that such small changes can radically transform the culture of the workplace. However, making people feel appreciated can dramatically improve the business. 

It’s impossible to ignore the benefits of employee recognition. If they know they are valued, people will work harder and smarter.

When an employee can come to expect regular positive feedback, they will only improve their performance. Creating an environment of recognition lets your employees know that you value them as both workers and individuals. 

From working harder to working up the nerve to propose new ideas, employee recognition is a tried-and-true way to help your team succeed.