Why Employees Need Both Recognition and Appreciation?

Here is a fun fact to start off - a well-designed employee recognition program can drive up an 11.1% increase in employee engagement. This goes on to show how motivated employees are with the perfect amount of appreciation and recognition. Yes, they are two different words with two different meanings. We frequently use these words interchangeably and while they are both important, there is a significant difference between them. Both these aspects are equally important for a positive and productive company culture, but their distinct definitions mean that they are codependent factors that complement each other effectively.

It's critical to distinguish between recognition and appreciation if you want to foster a healthy, positive culture in your company where employees feel satisfied and valued for their work. It gives leaders the opportunity to create a culture of engagement, loyalty, and high performance. According to research conducted by Abby McCain, 80% of employees would work harder if they felt better appreciated. 

Difference between Recognition and Appreciation

The distinct meaning of these words means distinct applications. They both serve specific purposes which are interconnected with each other and contribute to the overall work culture. Employee motivation and engagement can be increased through recognition and appreciation. While recognition is more work-related, appreciation is more concerned with the employee as a person. 

Recognition is about giving positive feedback based on results or performance and happens after the phenomenon. But it is conditional. It is based on our results and our past performances. And for it to be effective, it is generally a bit scarce, which gives employees that extra push to work hard for it. This does not imply that your team works only for praise and recognition. But it definitely is a very special incentive for the efforts that they are putting - like icing on the cake.

Appreciation, on the other hand, is the recognition of a person's objective value. The point isn't their accomplishments. It is their worth as a coworker and as a person. It can have a profoundly positive impact on employees' self-worth while also strengthening their relationships with coworkers and management. It's also a good idea to express gratitude for no particular reason every now and then. When your entire team is present, working hard, and arriving on time, give them a small token to remind them that you appreciate their positive attitudes.

The Importance of Recognition and Appreciation

Both appreciation and recognition are essential aspects of demonstrating gratitude, but they are different and serve unique purposes. People feel seen, valued, and respected when they receive genuine appreciation and recognition. Interactions, not gestures, underpin acts of appreciation and recognition that result in that specific outcome.

The key is to recognize that both are valuable in and of themselves and to recognize that both are required to create a workplace culture that keeps employees loyal and engaged. If you focus on recognizing and praising positive outcomes, you will miss out on many opportunities to connect with and support your team members — to appreciate them. 

Building a Culture around these Aspects

It is important to foster these aspects in the workplace and build a culture around it - something that acts as a catalyst for positive vibes and a motivated workforce. Appreciation and recognition are factors that complement each other, and they are not fully impactful without one other. So it is important to create a balance between these elements and measure their impact at the workplace.

Here are a few ways that we can take up to cultivate these aspects in the workplace - 

Show your appreciation in a team meeting: Some people prefer to be recognized in public, so figure out what works best for your team members.

Determine the types of accomplishments that deserve to be recognized -  Defining the types of outcomes that will be recognized adds another incentive for desired behaviors and helps to create a sense of scarcity, making the recognition noteworthy and unique.

Listen to what they have they have to say - One of the best ways to show employees appreciation is to sincerely listen to their opinions.

Every manager has a different approach to their leadership style, but it is important to inculcate these aspects in their thought process to be able to function at high capacity. 

Conclusion

Great leaders have to successfully focus on and cultivate both appreciation and recognition. Building an appreciation and recognition culture is as effective as it is positive: when employees feel valued and respected, their morale and performance improve, and turnover decreases. However, the advantages do not end there. Setting up a rewards and recognition platform like Vega HR, which is created to specifically cater to important aspects like recognition and engagement, among others, can effectively serve the purpose of setting up a culture of appreciation and recognition. 

You can recognize and appreciate your employees by directing your efforts in the right direction. By doing so, you're cultivating a potentially life-long commitment from them—a commitment that could last the life of your company.

Article source: https://article-realm.com/article/Business/Careers/31123-Why-Employees-Need-Both-Recognition-and-Appreciation.html