Peer recognition programs - a smart way to keep your employees motivated
By siliconindia   |   Friday, 27 May 2011, 04:15 IST
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Peer recognition programs - a smart way to keep your employees motivated
Bangalore: Many have recognized the fact that the most memorable recognition in their career often comes from their fellow team members than from managers. Lack of appreciation is often cited as the greatest dissatisfaction at work even above pay and benefits. Peer-to-peer recognition program is viewed as a strong strategic leadership tool which more and more organizations are adopting today. It's found that day-to-day recognition increases employee engagement up to 35 percent. In the simplest words, it's the method of allowing team members acknowledge each others' good work. The peer-to-peer program is even more powerful than recognition from managers. Progressively thinking managers are recognizing the power of peer recognition as peers can deliver a more detailed and effective feedback as they can observe their co-workers' performance better. As the core of business revolves around the managers and supervisors, they face the challenge of finding time to effective provide feedbacks to their employees on a regular basis. Its here the peer-to-peer program is valued the most as it creates a culture in an organization where employees take up the responsibility of providing day-to-day recognition. It translates the corporate goals into daily actions and behaviors very effectively to which every employee can relate to. If you are planning to develop a peer recognition program at your workplace, we would recommend you to keep the below factors in mind: The program should target specific behaviors important to the organization and you should properly define what you are looking for. Specific feedbacks are more effective than the general praise, so encourage your employees to be precise when they compliment each other. It's very important that you make the program simple so that it's easy for everyone to understand how it works. The easier the program is designed, the better the response will be and you can consider redesigning it later to maintain interest and enthusiasm. You should involve your employees while designing the program. Moreover, the desired outcome of peer recognition program can be completely achieved only when the employees are given the freedom to run and own the program. Choose a set of formal and informal set of leaders to implement the program. When employees own the program, they will more likely make it work. It's very important that you make the program function in a fair manner. Everyone in your organization should be given equal opportunities to give and receive feedback. Let the program be interesting, entertaining, fun filled, and spontaneous. Set appropriate time frame for handing out the rewards, like weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Lack of recognition should kill the motivation in your employees and gradually they become dissatisfied with the job. Peer-to-peer recognition programs, which are very easy to implement and are effective, can ignite the motivation in your employees to perform with the highest of dedication and commitment.

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