Sincere recognition can only be accomplished if you know how the person
wants to be recognized. Giving gift certificates, extra money, or a
special parking space works only if it is of value to the person getting
the recognition.
One of the questions I ask people in an interview and again after they are
hired is "How do you like to be recognized for a job well done?" Yes, a
few people are taken back by it, but most people are capable of responding
in a truthful manner. If the company or I do not have the ability to
recognize the people then a hire may not be a good fit.
For me - recognition is done by someone taking me to lunch or breakfast.
It does not have to be fancy - just a place to sit down, relax, and have a
conversation with some one who things I'm a good person.
Lastly if recognition is given at some timed interval (a la at the end of
the year) or to a significant number of people (over 25%) then it will
only be considered sincere the first time it is done. It becomes less
sincere to the receivers the more it is done or the more people it is done
to. Then it soon becomes an entitlement.
Just my two cents.
--E July <ewj@mninter.net>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>