Leaders and the Power of Recognizing Performance

The Leadership Challenge Middle East

The monthly salary for each employee is what all employees want.
Of course.
However what drives employees is more than money.
Research shows that employees have far more important drivers than money.
Meaning, purpose, belonging, feeling that they have a value, that they can make a difference and that they will be recognized and appreciated for the good work they do are far more important than the money they receive for their efforts.
Leaders can satisfy each of these by what he or she does for the employees.
When people are recognized and appreciated – often in quite simple ways – they want to perform better.
Giving a monetary bonus will be appreciated, it may be an opportunity for that employee to take the family to dinner somewhere really nice.
Typically staff will say that they remember this gesture from the company when the dinner is over.
That doesn’t mean they’re not grateful, but the simple gesture of “thank you”, a handwritten note, expressing positive comments about that employee‘s work when the team is all together will be remembered for one simple reason: the message from the leader is coming from his or her heart, and when this happens, it touches the heart of the employee.
In The Leadership Challenge, recognition and appreciation is regarded as ‘serious business’.
Even the simplest recognition can have serious outcomes : team members are motivated to continue their high performance, their engagement and their commitment.
When employees are receiving this encouragement, they develop a strong sense of belonging, they connect with the real purpose of their work and how they’re doing that work.
They want to perform at their best.
All because their leader genuinely shows appreciation.
It’s not hard to do.
When you show your appreciation, watch their reaction to what you said or did. What you see may even touch your heart - and encourage you to continue showing recognition