Do you remember Connect Four? It’s a kid’s game where each player takes a turn dropping colored chips from the top of a grid. The winner was the first to connect four pieces together horizontally, vertically or diagonally. It was the kind of puzzle that got easier once someone showed you how to organize your pieces.
Optimizing your recognition assets can be a lot like Connect Four. Companies may have some of the more popular pieces in place like service awards, “above and beyond” initiatives, “peer-to-peer” programs and some type of “best of the best” award. But all too often they struggle to connect and align them in a cohesive manner.
Some companies may offer just one or two recognition pieces and feel that they have won, but they have actually come up short. They underestimate the value of connecting all employees. Or they delay adding program elements until later. Those run the risk of not reaching, or maybe even disenfranchising some employees in the interim.
Line up all four recognition pieces and you are on your way to addressing every worker – no matter what role they play in the organization. When coupling this pursuit with the use of the right technology – you will be both efficient and effective as you do so.
A comprehensive “Total Rewards” structure that connects all four recognition pieces; service awards, above and beyond initiatives, peer to peer programs and best of the best awards is the only way to go for companies that are truly serious about recognition. It offers the most immediate return and the greatest likelihood of long-term success. It solves the puzzle for companies looking to reinforce the desired behaviors and outcomes across the entire employee base.
Employee recognition is not child’s play..companies with more engaged employees outperform than those that don’t. It is however a lot easier to pull off when someone shows you how to connect all the pieces.