We’ve talked before on this blog about the importance of personal touch. You can make these connections in many different ways- inviting someone for coffee, having lunch with a friend, etc.. But few methods are more powerful than simple recognition.
A recent Entrepreneur.Com article cited lack of recognition as the Number Two reason good employees leave a company.[i] It’s a simple thing, but it often goes overlooked. Ranked higher than leaving due to the lack of challenges and development, acknowledgement of employee contribution clearly needs to take more precedence in companies.
How can you do this easily? Let your employees know you appreciate how hard they’re working when they report to you during a project. Or, when you see them in your next one-on-one meeting, tell them what a great job they’re doing. You’d be surprised how much a pat on the back means to your employees!
And the recognition doesn’t just have to be up to the Executive suite. At Rocket IT, we set aside time during every all-staff meeting to publicly acknowledge our colleagues for their contributions. You’re not required to recognize anyone- this is on a voluntary basis- so it means even more when someone recognizes you during the meeting. Praise often crosses departmental lines. Our Service Team has been known to give kudos to Sales, and vice versa.
This is also an additional opportunity for executives and managers to laud employee contributions when the team is all in one place. It’s good to recognize excelling employees publicly as well as privately.
You don’t have to wait for your team members to meet with you either. Often, Matt Hyatt, Rocket IT’s CEO, will come over to someone’s desk to let them know he thinks they’re doing a great job. A little praise at the right time or a thank you for their work can go a long way in letting employees know how appreciated they are.
Recognition is such a simple thing, but we should never forget how incredibly powerful it can be.
[i] http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249903
About the Author-
Jacque McFadden is the marketing specialist at Rocket IT. She graduated from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, and returned to Georgia after spending a year in Austin, TX.
We’ve all heard stories of wayward IT consultants holding critical company information or other resources for ransom. This is one of the biggest concerns we hear from potential clients. There are several ways you can protect yourself and your business when you outsource your IT. Download our FREE infographic to learn the 7 Ways to Avoid Being Held Hostage by Your IT Consultant here.