Making recognition a priority for a workforce in isolation
On top of getting to grips with ‘working from home’, people are coping with the immense stresses and strains of a COVID-19 lockdown. Children and spouses are at home, outdoor activity is restricted and the ‘new normal’ is highly abnormal. This is why, now more than ever, leaders need to prioritise appreciation to keep people connected, valued and motivated.
Bringing out the best in people
We know that recognition brings out the best in people – employees feel an increase in value which leads to greater drive and determination, better work relationships and stronger connections to their organisations. Yet, when people are working in isolation, maintaining strong workplace connections is more challenging than ever. It’s no longer possible to show appreciation with a smile and a friendly chat by the watercooler. Leaders need to make time to reassure colleagues that their contribution is essential.
Obviously at a time like this, appreciating people in person is not possible, however this doesn’t mean that recognition moments should be forgotten. Leaders and colleagues need to be creative while remaining authentic, appreciating effort and results daily via video conference, phone calls and recognition apps, and ensuring special occasions are called-out.
Take for example an O.C. Tanner manager who recently hand-delivered a beautiful acrylic numeral and ‘Yearbook’ to a colleague’s doorstep in celebration of her one-year work anniversary. The manager and her colleagues then jumped on a conference call from their newly established ‘home offices’ to wish her well and to show their appreciation. They discussed the colleague’s successes, her values and the attributes they all admired, providing a memorable and highly personal recognition moment in spite of isolation.
And when recognition takes place, it’s important to use the opportunity to reaffirm the company’s purpose and values. Link every moment of appreciation back to the company’s purpose so that colleagues understand how their contribution is part of something much bigger than themselves and more longer-term than the here and now. And don’t forget to connect the behaviours and achievements being appreciated to company values. At a time of crisis, people need the comfort of knowing that despite the turmoil around them, their company remains resolute in its beliefs, outlook and approach.
Bringing people together
Now more than ever, organisations need to exploit technology to ensure people remain positive and valued. As well as collaborative tools to bring people closer together, recognition apps can help colleagues to send a quick ecard of thanks, provide digital points to a co-worker so they can earn a gift of their choice, or even nominate a colleague for a special recognition award. And when these recognition solutions are integrated into Outlook and other commonly used apps, it makes it even easier and more ‘top-of-mind’ to express appreciation regardless of distance.
Eventually, things will return to normal, and when they do, a motivated team of people that have felt valued and empowered while in isolation is going to be the energy companies need to get their businesses back on track. It is the companies that are quick to appreciate now while sticking close to their values, which will be the winners in the long-term.
The author is Robert Ordever, MD of O.C. Tanner Europe.
This article is provided by O.C. Tanner Europe.
In partnership with O. C. Tanner
Giving teams the integrated tools they need when, where and how they need them.
