Employee recognition isn’t just a nice thing to do – it’s an effective communication tool that ultimately rewards your business and the people within it. Reinforcing the fact that your employees have contributed in a large way within the workplace helps promote the positive image of themselves and their self-worth. It’s something that many organizations aren’t doing effectively, which affects their ability to retain talented employees. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor research found that 64 percent of working Americans leave their jobs because they do not feel appreciated.
In today’s technological world, many organizations are becoming more “connected.” And though many often think that just means enabling more technologies, it doesn’t. It also means adapting change within the workplace to an open work environment where employees are encouraged to share, recognize, collaborate and innovate virtually. What’s the trick? Social media.
Being the dominant form of communication, social media is key in any organization — 39 percent of 18-24 year-olds would consider leaving a job if they weren’t allowed to access some social media sites. It’s even been said that over 25 percent of all internet activity in the U.S. is spent on social media sites. As an employer, you can use this to your advantage since it offers a quick and easy way to recognize employees on a day-to-day basis – not to mention it’s cost-effective.
“Social media relationships and personal relationships work exactly the same way — you get out of them what you put into them,” Author Gary Vaynerchuk writes, “and when done right, social media is one of the most effective and least expensive platforms you can use.”
Recognizing employees on social media is as simple as saying “Congratulations Jessica on reaching this month’s sales goal!” That said, as you begin to use the different platforms for recognition, be sure to follow these guidelines:
- Always get permission before using a photo of an employee.
- Only post recognition posts on the company pages. If you start posting on an employee’s personal page it then starts to blur the lines between professional and personal life.
- If you haven’t already done so, encourage all employees to be engaged within the company’s social media platforms. It will improve effectiveness to your recognition program, all the while bringing more visibility to the company.
- Never criticize on social media. Keep all forms of recognition positive to achieve the best results.
- Be professional. Social media sites are open for the world to see – ultimately representing your company as a whole – so make sure that everything you post is free of controversial content.
No matter what’s being recognized, showing your employees they are appreciated will pay dividends in social capital. Individuals who feel valued are more positive about themselves and their ability to contribute within the company. Let’s face it, the happiest employees – with positive self-esteem – are ultimately the best employees.
