The Importance of Associate Recognition Programs

Associate recognition has long been a cornerstone of effective management. Great organizations constantly reevaluate the ways they reward Associates. This ensures they meet the needs of both their people and the market.

What exactly is Associate Recognition?

Associate recognition is a method of support that helps Associates know their contributions are recognized and appreciated. It’s used by organizations to express appreciation, improve motivation, and reinforce desired behavior.

Why it Matters

If you regularly give out authentic, deserved recognition Associates, you’ll be that much closer to unlocking their full potential. Associate recognition helps to retain top talent, increase Associate engagement, and encourage high performance. Associates want to know that their hard work and achievements aren't going unnoticed. When a person achieves a goal, personal or work-related, they feel a rush of achievement, and that good feeling is only amplified when others recognize and acknowledge the achievement as well.

Recognition can be tied to more than just performance. Celebrate strong effort when Associates go above and beyond. This helps them develop emotional connections to the workplace that fuel future performance. It also reinforces value. Achievements and actions that are recognized more frequently show Associates what is valued by managers, leaders, and the organization as a whole. When we receive positive recognition for an action, we tend to Associate that action with a reward and try to achieve that feeling again in future actions. So, recognizing certain actions can reinforce the values an organization wants in its culture.

Recognizing a job well done, an Associate going above and beyond, or rewarding hard work are all beneficial techniques that can help people feel more valued. When an Associate gets the recognition they deserve, both the company and Associate benefit. Recognition Programs are an integral part of successful corporations.