What are some tactics to acknowledge the "wins" in your organization?

The easiest thing is a simple "thank you" or "good job." Don't underestimate how meaningful this can be. It's a psychological mood-booster when we feel appreciated for our efforts - even if we know this is something already expected of us. At home, don't you feel better when your spouse acknowledges the time you spent cooking, mowing the lawn, getting up in the middle of the night with the (apparently nocturnal) toddler, or those other daily tasks that life requires? You'll get the same positive result by showing appreciation in the workforce.

Depending on the situation, there are many ways to pass along your gratitude and praise. You can communicate your thanks in passing, at a one-on-one meeting, in an email or text, or with a written note. If you're sending an email, consider CC'ing the employee's direct supervisor and your positive message can take on even more weight. When acknowledging someone, it's better to focus on something specific ("Thank you for always being the first one ready for our team meeting") vs. something general ("Thanks for being a good employee"). A rule of thumb is to give at least twice as much praise and appreciation as pointing out faults/flaws.

Another option that takes a little more effort is sharing public recognition or awards. Some ideas: Use tracking software to identify who has the highest ratings for the day/week/month in ticket sales, service ratings, etc. and acknowledge them in front of the team. Bring in treats to share when a key goal is achieved. Present awards based on who best exemplifies your company values. Post photos on social media of "cleanest installs" to highlight the best performers... and encourage others to mimic them. Recognize birthdays and work anniversaries in team meetings to show that you care about your people. 

But be cautious: not everyone responds the same to public recognition. Putting an introvert on the spot might backfire, making them LESS likely to want to replicate the behavior and be forced into the spotlight again. Bringing in pizza to celebrate the accomplishment of a dairy-and-gluten-free employee will make them feel less appreciated, not more. And rewarding mediocrity (like a special bonus for people who show up on time!) can actually lead to worse employee behavior... but that's a whole separate blog post.

What about bonuses, raises, and promotions? Yes, these are certainly an option. But the mood-boosting impact of recognition only lasts so long before an employee needs another boost, and you probably can't financially sustain this. Plus, promotions aren't always the best solution, like when you promote your best salesman and realize his amazing sales skills don't translate to management skills and now everyone's unhappy. 

Find small but meaningful ways to celebrate employees, key milestones, and desired behavior. Not only will this increase team morale, but employees will want to replicate the efforts that got to these celebrations, improving overall performance. Everyone wins!

What are some other ways you acknowledge team achievements? We'd love to hear your examples!