3 Reasons Why We’re Afraid of Employee Recognition
Working in Human Resources, we see every day how recognition can motivate employees to great success. While working with my HR Consulting clients, I have noticed how generous people are with praise and recognition of their co-workers’ accomplishments. Conversely, however, these same folks are often reluctant to tout their achievements. Many of us are uncomfortable with self-promotion but we should encourage team members to sing their own praises when they do great work.
Below are several common beliefs that limit us from sharing our own successes, and the truth behind them.
- We feel that great work will simply be noticed, and should speak for itself.
In fact, many accomplishments fall under the radar. Remember that bosses are busy, too! Employees need to understand that it is part of their job to report their accomplishments. Organizations should provide tools and opportunities for employees to do this. The performance review is a good forum to encourage employees to report on work about which they are especially proud. There are also a number of employee recognition software programs available which we highlighted in a recent article: How HR Software Can Improve Employee Engagement.
- Taking individual credit feels awkward, especially when you value being a team player.
Remind your employees that their individual accomplishments benefit the whole team. Team members need to understand that their work is valued and contributes to the achievement of group and organizational goals.
- Calling out your own accomplishments can seem too much like bragging.
Just as there are times to recognize something a colleague has done, there is a time to share your own success. Encourage team members to describe their accomplishment in a fact-based, informative way that might help others who are working on similar projects or challenges. There is also a bit of the “golden rule” that applies here: as long as an employee also gives credit to fellow team members when due, no one will mind when it’s their turn to take some.
If your organization needs help coaching employees to their best abilities, developing performance reviews or facilitating employee recognition programs, SharedHR can help. With over 30 years in the business, we’ve seen it all—we know what works and what doesn’t. Contact us today!
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