The average 40 hours per week employee spends about a third of their weekdays devoted to their job. Most spend more time working than they do sleeping or being with their families Monday – Friday. With such a big chunk of life being taken up by work, it’s important that the place an employee goes to all week to punch in and punch out has a positive company culture that recognizes and rewards them, but that’s not something that just happens; it takes a conscious effort and consistent practice to build over time.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about what a good company culture looks like and how to create it in your workplace – specifically through the use of awards, incentives, and recognition.
If somebody says or does something in the world today that was egregious or inappropriate, and consequences come as a result of those words or actions, it’s often said that person was canceled. In a way, employees, clients, and prospects can write off your business in a similar fashion. A company that rewards the people involved in its success serves as a shining example of a positive and thriving culture. Conversely, a company known for undervaluing those involved in its process and taking people for granted can effectively be canceled by the parties who feel unrecognized.
Cancel Culture
A survey referenced in the Harvard Business Review found that 82% of people don’t feel their supervisors recognize them enough for their contributions, and 40% of them said they’d put more energy into their work if they were recognized more often. Employees quitting and clients taking their business elsewhere isn’t the only concern; failure to recognize and incentivize these groups can result in them checking out and giving the bare minimum effort in their work.(1)
Similarly, 81% of employees report they’re motivated to work harder when their boss shows appreciation for their work – a much better motivator than the 38% that work harder when their boss is demanding, or the 37% who are motivated by fear of losing their job.(2)
Beyond the stats, think about any business that relies on word of mouth. All it takes is one bad review or one person that says a company doesn’t recognize its workers to tarnish the company’s reputation. Business operates smoother and opportunities add up faster when prospects, clients, and employees feel valued and receive regular recognition.
Culture Shock
Toxic workplaces abound in corporate North America. Nearly everyone has a story about a terrible boss or a job where they felt undervalued and underappreciated. So when someone walks into a position where they are treated well and appreciated, it creates something of a culture shock.
As an employer, your goal should be to take all the stereotypes of negative workplaces with consequently disgruntled employees and replace them with productive and positive approaches that make for a pleasant work experience for all involved. One of the best ways to do this is to constantly show appreciation for your employees, prospects, and clients.
On a macro level, this can mean annual, quarterly, monthly, or weekly awards to call out exemplary performance. Trophies, medals, gifts, or gift cards can make employees and clients feel valued while also incentivizing other employees and clients to strive to do better so that they, too, can win awards and be recognized.
But on a micro level, creating this type of affirming culture takes even less work. It takes so little effort to reach out to someone and thank them for their hard work. They don’t have to hit some landmark achievement or have the next big idea that revolutionizes the industry to get a simple thank you. And beyond the human decency aspect of making them feel good, employees feeling appreciated is good for business. According to a recent survey, more than half of employees admit they would stay longer at their company if they felt more appreciation from their boss.(3)
Be a Culture Hero
A study from Gallup found that memorable recognition in the workplace must be fulfilling, authentic, equitable, embedded in the culture, and personalized.(4) Many companies are lacking in these pillars, with Gallup’s research also finding that only 36% of employees reported their organization having a recognition system in place.
Awards and trophies are one great way to tangibly show appreciation for good work, but other print and promotional items can achieve the same goal. A branded jacket for employee of the month, self-care products to reward a job well done, or even a personalized plaque can be effective ways to show those you work with that you see them and validate the effort they put forward.
Creating this type of culture starts at the top and trickles down. If management is being recognized they will, in turn, recognize those on the ground level, and an atmosphere of appreciation and validation will be built at the company.
As a business owner, company culture starts with you. You can be the hero that makes employees say they have an amazing boss, the reason clients decide to give your company even more business, and the motivation for prospects to do business with you in the first place.
The Takeaway
So much of life is spent at a job, so why not make the workplace as pleasant as possible? Creating a positive and affirming culture takes work, but ultimately results in happier employees, clients, and prospects that are more productive and more likely to stick around. When you reward, incentivize, and recognize those involved in your process, life is better for everyone. Contact us today to set up a call with a dedicated member of our team to help source and curate products that contribute to creating a constructive and supportive workplace culture.
