May 2012 Blog Posts (22)

Recognize This! – The best laid reward schemes of mice and HR Pros go often awry. (With a nod to Robert Burns)

What employee recognition or reward program have you put in place that you later regretted? Would unlimited vacation or paid time-off (PTO) make that list?

During the last year or two, I’ve seen many articles talking about the benefits of unlimited vacation. On the surface, this seems quite a progressive approach. But does it really work in…

Recognize This! – The only qualifier for needing recognition in the workplace is being a member of the human race.

Last week I had the pleasure of co-presenting with Thad Peterson the results of the Globoforce Spring 2012 Mood Tracker survey (which tracks the perceptions of full-time, currently employed U.S. workers). Now…

Recognize This! – You can get more done, more effectively, with a few kind words and good humor.

One of my colleagues is from the Southern U.S. She tells me she was raised to be Southern Belle. Now, being from Ireland, I’m not entirely sure what all the connotations of that mean, but I do understand that good manners, polite good humor, and kind words are a part of the equation. One of her favorite sayings is, “You catch more flies with honey than…

Recognize This! – Strong talent always has a choice of where to work and increasingly is choosing an organization with purpose.

On Monday, I wrote about the importance of culture for organization success and how to do that through consistent, frequent recognition of employees.…

Recognize This! – There are always B players in any organization who are just as important to your success as A players, if in a different way.

During the last few months, one of the top books has been the Steve Jobs autobiography. It’s a fascinating read and doesn’t hold back on both the genius of Steve Jobs as well as his less attractive personality traits and leadership…

Recognize This! – Creating the culture you want and need for organization success takes sustained hard work.

Suzanne Rumsey from Knowledge Infusion wrote last month in Fistful of Talent about company culture. Her post is spot-on and deserves to be…

Recognize This! – Focusing on positivity at work must be based on more than just “good feelings” to be successful over the long term.

What do you think about the positivity at work movement?

I’ve written about positivity psychology at work before, noting:

“If choosing positivity for ourselves is within our power (and I believe it is – we choose our attitude every day), why are we neglecting positivity in the workplace? Is it because we work…

Recognize This! – Perfect attendance awards are a bad idea.

Can we talk about a dirty little secret of employee recognition?

“Perfect Attendance” awards are a really bad idea. Yes, we want our employees to come to work. But we already pay them to be here and to do their job. At their base, that’s what attendance awards are all about – show up and do your job.

In fact, attendance awards aren’t recognition. They are incentives –…

Employers looking at improving their bottom line should look to improve employee sickness attendance rate with a comprehensive occupational health benefits package. 

An independent government review Health at work – an independent review of sickness absence by Dame Carol Black and David Frost of the British Chambers of Commerce…

Recognize This! – Talent is indisputably fluid. So are business objectives. HR must deliver a way to align fluid talent with fluid business needs.

I’ve just finished reading a very interesting report from Knowledge Infusion CEO and Co-Founder Jason Averbook and President Heidi Sprigi. In “HR Tech Predictions & Prescriptions for 2012,” Jason and Heidi make eight…

Recognize This! – Join me for a webinar discussion of the latest Globoforce Mood Tracker Survey results.

Employee loyalty is one of those topics that can divide a room. Well, at least room full of HR Pros who live and breathe recruiting, retention and productivity. Some argue loyalty is long dead, thanks to corporate actions begun in the 1970s and 80s. Others believe loyalty is alive and well, but to fellow colleagues and managers, not to the organization per…

Recognize This! – The unexpected surprise delights us more than the expected reward.

I’m often asked about the difference between incentives and recognition (and if there really is one). Let me be clear – there is a very great difference between incentives and recognition. There is a role for both, though I…

Recognize This! – Trying to use recognition as compensation will not only fail, it will confuse and possibly anger the people you are trying to “recognize.”

I’ve been having an interesting email discussion with a UK doctoral candidate whose thesis is focused on qualitative recognition and reward program research, especially on “recognition gone wrong.” As part of that discussion, she shared with me this story:

“For instance, in an organisation I…

Recognize This! – Avoid these common prejudices and misunderstandings if you want to engage employees for increased productivity and performance.

I’m all for a good rant now and again. I’ve been known to go on a few myself. This morning I read three good rants from bloggers and writers I respect and learn from. They are worth sharing with a larger audience.

1) “Over-qualified” workers can become your most engaged employees – if you give them a…

Recognize This! – Misguided recognition efforts can do more harm than good.

Case studies provide an exceptional opportunity to learn – both the good and the “misguided.” Here are three misguided employee recognition case studies to learn from this week.

1) Limit the “winners circle” to just a few.

A primary attribute of strategic recognition is…

Recognize This! – Misguided recognition efforts can do more harm than good.

Case studies provide an exceptional opportunity to learn – both the good and the “misguided.” Here are three misguided employee recognition case studies to learn from this week.

1) Limit the “winners circle” to just a few.

A primary attribute of strategic recognition is…

Within the work place, it is essential that all members of staff work well together and get to know each other. The only way that you can do this is with team building exercises. Here are some of the top 5 activities for team building in Brisbane.

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Recognize This! – Frequent, consistent communication and positive reinforcement keeps key objectives and core values at front-of-mind for employees.

A recent post in the Great Leadership blog on “The Top 5 Mistakes Leaders Make” is my inspiration for today’s post. I agree with post author Beth Armknecht Miller and appreciate the attention she has called to managerial focus,…

Recognize This! – Frequent, consistent communication and positive reinforcement keeps key objectives and core values at front-of-mind for employees.

A recent post in the Great Leadership blog on “The Top 5 Mistakes Leaders Make” is my inspiration for today’s post. I agree with post author Beth Armknecht Miller and appreciate the attention she has called to managerial focus,…

Recognize This! – No company will build the same culture, but every organization should focus intentional effort on building the right culture for them.

I’ve been traveling a good deal again lately, which means I’ve had time to dig into my “organization culture and leadership” pile of books. A short flight recently gave me the opportunity to read Building a Culture of…