It’s so important for managers to recognize the good work that their employees do. A recent survey by Globoforce revealed that when employees receive recognition from their bosses:

  • 92% felt appreciated
  • 86% felt prouder of their work
  • 86% felt happier at work
  • 85% felt more satisfied with their job
  • 83% felt more engaged
  • 81% felt more committed
  • 79% felt it made them work harder

The survey also revealed that while 46% of employees received recognition in the past five months, 33% of employees had not received recognition for six months or more, and 21% had never been recognized for their good work. So it’s possible that employees aren’t getting positive feedback as often as they should.

It’s also important for managers to use the right approach. Although saying a quick “thanks” saves time and effort, it doesn’t tend to make much of an impact. Employees appreciate it when managers take a few minutes to give them meaningful feedback. What they want to hear is, “I recognize the work that you’ve done and I appreciate your efforts.”

 

The Role of Recognition in Building a More Human Workplace. (2016). In Globoforce Workhuman Research Institute: 2016 Survey Report. Retrieved from http://go.globoforce.com/rs/862-JIQ-698/images/ROIofRecognition.pdf

Wolper, J. (2016). The hunt for recognition. Talent Development, 70(6), 12.