By Edwin Richard Rigsbee

"Praise for a job well done!" was the response most frequently given to me during my six- month Employee Loyalty Survey in 1995. At seminars across the country, I asked attendees to tell me the one thing that would improve their company loyalty. Present were of all levels, from entry to executive, and recognition is what American workers want most!

I believe most executives, owners and managers secretly yearn for employees who have an emotional ownership in their company, employees that operate as if they own the company and always look out for the company's best interests. Unfortunately, few are willing to do what it takes to cultivate this emotional ownership. Often, I hear managers saying that loyalty is too costly. But, how much does it cost to say, "Good job" or "Thank you", not a cent! The cost is the manager giving of him or herself and to some, that price is too high. I have found that a little bit of recognition goes a long way.

Find creative ways to recognize your team. Don't let your creativity limit you. Ask your employees what they might like. Ask colleagues what they have done. Listed below are 50 "easier", low cost recognitions offered by my seminar attendees.

In "The Art of Partnering", I wrote about Management By Partnering Around (MBPA). I believe MBPA is the best possible solution to greater productivity. This applies to anybody who considers them a self manager or better, yet, a leader. Use Ken Blanchard's model from the "One Minute Manager", find employees doing things right and give them a "one minute praising" on the spot. What a great way to build relationships.

When I suggest partnering around, I'm simply suggesting that you create mini-alliances throughout your organization with employees, teams, executives, and others. As in networking, your goal in MBPA is to get to know as many employees as possible. Next, learn their strengths, weaknesses, and their interests. This knowledge will allow you to successfully put people together using the "Adaptive Organization" model. It will serve you well by unleashing employee creativity and more effectively utilizing their unique abilities.

If you will commit to MBPA, you can add my favorite recognition program to all your other incentive or motivational workplace programs. Rigsbee's "Recommended Recognition Program" is that of offering negotiable corporate tender. The benefits to this recognition system are: immediate and customized recognitions. We all want to know how we are doing. Who would not like their "reward" customized to their individual preferences?

Too expensive you say: not at all! This is the best deal in town, if you do it correctly. Print recognition bucks, assign a value and hand them out when you catch your employees doing a great job, or buy them from Hunt Henion at 800-859-7150 or visit thier Web site at http://www.starform.com/business/recogcert.html under "Cool Company Currency" Mention this article to receive a 10% discount. It's praise for a job well done. Who should hand out the certificates? It should be supervisors, managers and executives/owners.

Assigning the value is a bit tricky. You want them coveted by the employees, but not so valuable that your managers are hesitant to hand them out. An Air Force major I met in Alaska assigned the value as a paid day off, but for most companies it is too valuable. Managers are much less likely to hand out days off than a coffee mug.

First look at what you already have that would create value in the lives of your employees, vender freebies, specialty advertising items and so forth. See what toys you can barter for within your community and then post a list of "recognitions" and assign how many certificates needed for redemption. One certificate might be worth a paid hour off or a T-shirt. Two certificates might get your employee movie tickets for two or lunch at a local haunt. Five certificates might get a company jacket or paid vacation day. Play with it, put up new postings each month of the newly acquired goodies. Be creative, always add something new to keep the program fresh and your employees guessing.

This program only works if the supervisors, managers and executives/owners will give of themselves to find employees doing things right and reward them for a job well done. Take a risk and try it. All you have to lose is the productivity your not currently getting. Whatever method you select for recognizing your employees, the important thing is to start now.

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Edwin Richard Rigsbee is the author of, The Art of Partnering, published by Kendall/Hunt Publishing and President Rigsbee Enterprises, Inc. (REI) located in Westlake Village, CA. REI is a strategic management and marketing consulting firm specializing problem detection and solutions. REI also produces customized management, marketing and sales training programs. Rigsbee is a regular keynote presenter for corporations and national associations across North America. Visit his internet web site at http://speakers.com/rigsbee.html, he can be reached at: Rigsbee Enterprises, Inc., P.O. Box 6425-Articles, Westlake Village, CA 91359 Tel: (805) 371-4636 Fax: (805) 371-4631 E-mail: edrigsbee@aol.com

Reprint of this article does not constitute an endorsement by the National Business Association; the article is for informational purposes for our members and viewers of our Web site.