INFOGRAPHIC // Don't let the recognition ghouls wreck your program.

If your recognition program has gone ghostly quiet, or there are some cobwebs that need to be swept away, don’t be spooked. For every ghoul in the closet there is a magic Halloween potion to bring your recognition program back from the dead.

Don’t get spooked this Halloween by any of these recognition skeletons.

Knock, knock, trick-or-treat…..no-one is home.

If you are struggling to get support, show each stakeholder how recognition can help them chase away their skeletons. Position the program based on what they want to deliver for the business. Employee recognition can increase productivity, improve sales, increase loyalty and improve the bottom line. No tricks, just the treat of positive results.

Bubble, bubble, recognition trouble!

If your managers and employees aren’t using the program, make sure you have the right ingredients for success. A base of employee-led everyday activity, a dash of manager-led recognition and a sprinkling of company awards should do the trick. Add some communication magic and your program will soon be bubbling along nicely.

There are recognition ghosts from programs past.

If your employees are scarred by the skeletons of an old program, don’t let the ghosts haunt you forever. Listen to your teams feedback and address any issues they may have. If you design your new program with their feedback in mind, they will be more invested, celebrating the great moments of recognition that happen everyday across the business.

Your employees think the rewards are all trick, no treat.

Employees should be able to earn rewards that are really rewarding. If your current offering is less treat and more ‘no-kind-of-trick-anyone-wants’, think of different ways to reward your team. Time off, VIP parking, volunteering – there are lots of ways to bring your recognition perks back from the graveyard.

The evil eye is always on recognition budget.

Use program data and your objectives to show the finance people what the impact of recognition is. Recognition is not just about creating a happier, more united team – there are real financial impacts too. Companies with a culture of recognition enjoy improved customer service, better bottom line profits and increased returns to shareholders. Demonstrate the ROI, so there is no RIP for the program.

The technology is so old you can’t see through the cobwebs.

Recognition software is changing all the time and while many providers offer similar features, look underneath the bandages. A great partner will continually deliver new market-leading features at no cost to you. Dusty old technology may attract the spiders but will quickly disengage your employees.

There is a flicker of activity but reporting gives you the shivers.

Recognition reporting is vital to keep your program from an early grave. You need to be able to access program results so you can address any issues. All employees should have access to activity dashboards, managers should have access to team reporting. Without simple and insightful analysis, you are like a bat in the headlights,