Holiday Parties Are a Perfect Time for Giving Recognition

The holiday party is a time-honored tradition for many companies. And there’s no better time to celebrate the end of a successful year, spend some quality time with your employees and coworkers, and prepare to start the new year on the right foot.

In addition to celebrating the achievement of annual goals, the holiday party is also an opportunity to recognize individual employees and teams for their contributions to the company’s overall success. In fact, according to research from Gallup, employees who receive regular recognition show increased productivity and engagement, have better safety records on the job, are more likely to stay with the company longer, and receive higher satisfaction scores from customers.

So, as you plan your company’s holiday festivities, consider including a few of these opportunities to recognize your employees’ hard work and dedication.

Recognize Goals that Have Been Achieved
The most obvious place to start when doling out the recognition is to focus on what the company as a whole has accomplished throughout the year. Building camaraderie by celebrating success is a great way to set an enthusiastic atmosphere for your holiday party and encourage employees to take time to congratulate and thank each other for all the hard work.  And, the recognition should come from the top down. In another Gallup survey, a quarter of respondents said the most memorable recognition comes from a high-level leader or CEO, and that public recognition is particularly appreciated. Set the tone for an upbeat party by starting off with a bang and celebrating the reasons a fun, end-of-the-year holiday party is even possible.

Recognize Goals for the Coming Year
Just as important as recognizing how far you’ve come is knowing where you’re going next. Once you’ve laid a foundation of positive vibes by reveling in the success of goals the company has already achieved, carry that energy forward to build excitement for upping the ante in the new year. Share your goals for 2018 and lay down a challenge for your employees to meet and exceed them. Recognize key individuals who have been tasked with providing guidance and leadership. Let your employees know what rewards await if all goals are successfully achieved. You don’t have to go into great detail or start outlining strategies just yet, but teasing the direction the company is going helps create an energetic buzz.

Recognize Individual Employee Accomplishments
A survey conducted by HR software developer BambooHR revealed that nearly one-third of full-time employees surveyed said they would rather be recognized company-wide by an executive than receive a $500 bonus.  Now, that doesn’t mean it’s time do away with employee bonuses altogether. Financial rewards are still the top choice for most employees when it comes to being recognized for their efforts. But it does highlight how impactful being singled out and praised in front of colleagues and co-workers for can be. Personal, public recognition is a key driver of employee engagement and taking time to celebrate the people who help the company succeed is important for retention and development of top talent.

Recognize the Quirky Side of Work
Although recognition for achieving goals and individual contributions to the company’s success should be a key part of your holiday party, it shouldn’t be all work and no play. Maintain a jovial atmosphere by acknowledging the lighter side of the job. This could include “senior superlative” style awards for best sense of humor or most likely to show up late to a meeting. You have to walk a fine line between caricature and mockery, but awards that celebrate the quirkier side of your company and its employees create levity that keeps the party fun and helps employees bond.

How do you give recognition to your employees at your holiday party? Let us know in the comments section below.

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One Response to Holiday Parties Are a Perfect Time for Giving Recognition

  1. Khalif Barkhadle December 8, 2017 at 7:07 pm #

    Thank you for your insightful and favorability in sharing with the broader universe.
    May you continue to go full steam ahead!.

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