VoxVlog

One of the most effective ways to increase productivity and motivation amongst staff is to provide recognition. In fact, one of the most effective ways to improve staff retention is to ensure that they are properly recognized for their work.

However, probably most importantly, it's a kind and thoughtful thing to do for a colleague and can make someone feel much more appreciated. Recognition cards are one way to do this, and they don't require any specialized platforms to create and use. Let's look at how you can utilize them in your workplace.

What Is a Recognition Card?

At its most basic, a recognition card is a paper or digital “postcard” with a written compliment or appreciation note for another colleague's work. This could be about anything from their performance, or how they display the values of the company.

The idea is that it isn't just the managers who send these recognition cards out, but the entire staff team gets involved. This creates a sense of community, and gives individuals the power to make a difference in someone else's day.

Moreover, they should be simple, and contain one or two sentences, as opposed to reams of text. Generally, there will be blank templates that the team can utilize, and send to others whenever they wish.

Ideas for Recognition Cards

When creating templates for recognition cards, it's useful to tailor them to basic themes, and values that your company strives for. You can usually find this in your organization's mission statement, and it generally forms part of the onboarding process.

Applying these values to your recognition card templates provides a foundation of what to look for when rewarding a colleague's work, and it can also strengthen employee workplace alignment. For example, if a company value is team work, then one of your recognition card templates could have "Team Work" as the title.

Alternatively, you can come up with your own ideas and themes around recognition, and encourage others to do the same. Some examples are:

• Supporting and helping others.
• Going above and beyond.
• Leadership.
• Excellent client work.
• Excellent project or group work.

You may choose to send the recognition cards to the individual, directly, or have a digital "wall of recognition" on your work intranet, or similar. Having a public display of this, however, has its pros and cons.

On the one hand, the colleagues who are included on the "wall" will likely feel a greater sense of recognition, as their whole team will see it, too. On the other, the staff who aren't included may feel underappreciated.

Creating Recognition Cards for Colleagues

There are two simple approaches you can take when creating recognition cards. The first is to make a digital template, and print these out for staff to pick up and write on. This option is good when working in a busy office, and there is lots of face-to-face interaction.

On the other hand, if you work remotely, or across different venues, having a digital copy of your recognition cards to email or message to each other, is ideal.

To start with, you will need a graphic design application to create the cards. A fantastic option is Canva, as it has a free version, and is accessible for creators of all skill levels.

You can pick from any of the size templates that Canva offers, although the Postcard option might be best for this purpose. If you're wanting to create a template, you'll want to include these features:

• An icon or your company's logo.
• Large text at the top that states "Thank you" or "Kudos".
• A section that says "To:" (to input the recipient's name).
• A section that says: "For:" (to include the reason for sending the card).
• (Optional) A section that says: "From:" (if you want to add the sender's name).

You can also choose from a variety of background colors to make the recognition card stand out and look more appealing. Once this is completed, you can send this out to your colleagues as a blank template, so they can write out recognition cards when they like.

Alternatively, you can opt for Nectar, which is a dedicated employee recognition application, designed to make sending recognition to your team easy and streamlined. You can register for a free account, which gives access to unlimited users.

Nectar allows you to assign points and company values to each recognition card you send. It also makes sending them easy, as all you have to do is tag the employee it's intended for. The software is also compatible with plenty of communication applications, such as Microsoft Teams, and Slack.

The Best Practice for Sending Recognition Cards

When sending kudos to colleagues, the best approach is to ensure that your compliments are genuine and not forced. The best way to do this is to let things happen naturally, and when an opportunity arises to thank someone, use that instance to send a recognition card.

On the other hand, you can keep an eye out for teammates who are going above and beyond, and displaying company values in their work. You don't have to be a manager or supervisor to do this, and it's a great way to stay connected with your team, especially when working remotely.

Keep the compliment simple, and don't overthink it. Plus, you can send as many as you want, to whomever you want; there are no limits on the recognition.

Giving Kudos Improves Team Morale

It's easy to forget to thank people for their hard work, when you've got your own tasks and workload to manage, but taking the time to recognize good work will greatly improve your working relationships, and create a much happier culture at work.

Recognition cards are easy to make, and only take a few minutes to write and send out. So if you think someone you work with has shown a lot of support for the team, or gone above and beyond, let them know that you've noticed and appreciate them. It can go a long way to improving morale.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rq3KnqysnZ%2Bbe6S7zGiaq52RqbJuv8Snm2aqlZi8qLrIraCopl2YrrOw0marqGWkmq6uew%3D%3D