Employee recognition is a lot more than just handing out a bonus check and saying "good job." People are motivated by much more than just money and there are many things you can do, besides the traditional bonus, to keep your employees happy and dedicated to your department and your company. Here are some suggestions:

First, make sure you have taken the time to understand what motivates your individual employees. Some people react very well to public praise while others are embarrassed by it and see it as unnecessary. So, take the time to understand which types of rewards will work best for each employee.

Be creative. Bonuses are always well received, but you need to do more than just hand out a bonus every year. People like to know that their work really is appreciated and valuable. Furthermore, there are many ways to reward employees that are less costly than shelling out cash. You can offer a day off, give out free tickets to the baseball game, take everyone out to lunch. The possibilities are endless.

Be spontaneous. Surprise your employees with different kinds of recognition, in different ways and at unexpected times. At one of my former employers, if our vice president thought people were working hard and doing a good job, every few weeks he would storm out of hiss office at 1:30 in the afternoon on a Friday and start yelling "everyone go home! Take the rest of the day off and enjoy the weather! Right now, I mean it!" People loved this. Even though some of the workaholics would end up working the rest of the day anyway, they clearly appreciated it.

Be sincere. Don't reward your employees because you feel like you are obligated to do it. Be genuine and sincere in your appreciation for their hard work and dedication. The best managers I've known are the ones who take a real interest in their employees on a professional level.

Use rewards sparingly. Don't reward just for the sake of rewarding and don't overdo it. You risk of having your rewards and recognition become hollow and meaningless if you are constantly recognizing people just for doing their jobs. This can also get very annoying to your employees. Instead, find real reasons for reward and recognitionmaybe someone found a way to save a bunch of money, or salvaged a major client. They went above and beyond. Learn to identify when these things happen and recognize them heartily. But, don't reward people just for doing what is in their job description.

Learn more about this author, Aden Zydo.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Best ways to reward employees?
We want to hear your view. Write now!