Agile and flexible recognition programs should come standard in your HR toolkit. When done right, recognition programs tap into the discretionary effort of your people, inspiring them to do more, give more and be more. In today’s rebounding economy, people are doing more with less already. Recognizing them for it is the right thing to do.

Recognition programs go a long way in connecting your people to your corporate mission, your leadership, your clients and each other. All of this can have a positive and sustainable impact on your business.

A study by Bersin & Associates says 71% of highly engaged employees work in organizations in which their peers are recognized at least once a month, often more. Show your people you appreciate and value their efforts, and they’ll show you a better bottom line.

Getting Started

Our best piece of advice? Focus on the here and now. Don’t look long-term, but think about what will work for the people in your office right now.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in January of 2012, the median number of years wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 4.6.

Five Steps to Effective Recognition:

1. Embrace current initiatives. What programs are resonating with your people right now? Do you have executive support for those programs? Can you duplicate the approach in other areas of your company?

2. Align program goals. More than anything, employees want to feel connected to the company – that their work matters and helps move your company forward. Make sure program objectives and corporate objectives are aligned. Have senior-level management in your corner.

3. Keep it simple. An intuitive, easy-to-use program means employees will recognize more often, thus creating greater overall impact.

4. Make awards matter. What are your employees willing to work for? If you don’t know, find out. Try to define what is most meaningful for your employees.

5. Communicate. Make sure program goals are easy to understand, and communicate them clearly and frequently. Use all avenues – electronic, print, social media.

ITA Group can show you what real recognition would look like in your organization. Would you be open to a conversation?

Happy People. Happy Company.

Learn more of our story at itagroup.com.

5I07C5-413 ITA Group®, the associated design/logo and Driven by Loyalty® are registered service marks of ITA Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

About ITA Group We create and manage events, incentives and recognition programs that align and

motivate your people. ITA Group has operations in Atlanta, Boca Raton, Chicago, Dallas, Des Moines, Detroit,

Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Francisco and the greater New York City area.

Connect with us.

Recognition is a Hard Economic Driver