The Human Awards: Making Employee Recognition More Fun and More Human

It’s no secret that employee recognition matters. According to research conducted by Gallup and Workhuman, 77% of employees who feel they receive the right amount of recognition are more loyal to their companies, about three times more than those who don’t feel appreciated enough.

Every organization has its own way of recognizing its employees… but what works and what makes a lasting impact?

In a study conducted by Gallup, data reveals that the most effective recognition is authentic, honest and personalized to how each employee wants to be recognized. People crave something more human. Something more than: “Employee of the Month,” “Salesman of the Year” or “Top Performer of the Year.” Make employee recognition more memorable and impactful for everyone by avoiding corporate clichés and buzzwords.

When it comes to making your employees feel appreciated, it pays off to be more creative, authentic and fun. I’m sharing some ideas with you about how you can make employee recognition in your organization more human.

Choose fun superlatives.

One of the things I do after working with a client for a year is to have a fun and quick survey where we vote for people on the team and give them special awards — what I call…