Most businesses are rediscovering that people represent their biggest advantage; that their employee’s willingness to cooperate and collaborate together toward a common goal is the key to growth.
Culture is the guiding force within an organization. It creates attitude alliance. It is everything employees share; goals, beliefs, values, definitions of what success really looks like and the acceptable pathways to getting there. The best cultures encourage idea creation and information sharing and align corporate strategy with behavioral expectations. It gives employees clarity and purpose and it provides a framework for worker contributions.
However, economic conditions over the past years may have damaged some cultures.
Have your employees stopped sharing information as readily as they once did? Have they stopped cooperating as willingly as they used to? These may be signs that your culture has lost its way.
So what’s the desired end game and how can recognition help? “Recognition” cultures are perceived by employees as positive places to work. In these environments, workers are more likely to trust their managers and their coworkers, they are more likely to share information and ideas and they contribute discretionary effort toward a shared outcome more willingly. In other words, they work together.
Recognition celebrates shared objectives. It helps workers feel focused and accountable. And along the way they own issues and outcomes and create stronger customer relationships. In a knowledge-driven economy, the advice and counsel delivered by employees defines the value of a product or service. In “recognition” cultures the employee’s commitment shines through with every customer and co-worker interaction. Recognize your employees and soon they will all be on the same track.