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DOs and DON’Ts of Great Recognition Programs

Written by: Cindy Ventrice

Article Overview: Before you create an employee recognition program read these tips for what to do and what not to do for an effective program.

Free Download - Four Ways to Waste Your Employee Recognition Budget By Cindy Ventrice
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DOs and DON’Ts of Great Recognition Programs

Have you considered creating a recognition program for your team? While it is true that you can provide meaningful recognition without ever putting a single recognition program in place, programs can spice things up and provide a fun way to reinforce key themes.

Before you begin, consider some of the DOs and DON’Ts of great Programs:

Don’t Require a winner every week, month, or quarter. If no one has met standards, no one should be recognized.

Don’t Set strict limitations on the number of winners. If an award is set up for a single winner, and three people have produced exceptional work, you should recognize three people

Don’t Make the program “fair” by insisting that everyone be recognized, including the people who arrive late, surf the Internet, and pass their work off on others.

Don’t Let the program become a bottleneck to timely recognition.

Don’t Allow the program to become the only form of recognition.

Don’t Expect one program to meet all your employees’ recognition needs.


Do Allow for both individuals and teams to receive recognition. For many people the pride of being part of a successful team is even more motivating than individual recognition. Provide opportunities for both.

Do Set and communicate clear criteria for what it takes to receive the award. This is what will make your program fair.

Do Tie awards to the organization’s values and you will reinforce what is most important.

Do Encourage employees to get involved in program design.

Do Develop systems that encourage awards for less visible employees.


Copyright 2006 Cindy Ventrice

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Home > Leadership > Cindy Ventrice > DOs and DONTs of Great Recognition Programs
Article Tags: bottleneck, cindy ventrice, meaningful recognition, pride, recognition program, strict limitations, successful team, tie awards

About the Author: Cindy Ventrice
RSS for Cindy's articles - Visit Cindy's website

My name is Cindy Ventrice. I am the author of the best-selling book Make Their Day! Employee Recognition That Works and the companion guide Recognition Strategies That Work. My work has been quoted in The New York Times, Harvard Business Update, Workforce Magazine, and on CNBC. Visit my website www.maketheirday.com today!

Click here to visit Cindy's website
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