February 2, 2017

It is now evident how useful and effective employee recognition programs are to organizations looking to retain employees, increase morale, and boost company culture. The workforce, however, is changing – and change is good! Workplaces are becoming more global, more mobile, multigenerational, and more social in everything way. And recognition programs are no exception. Social Recognition Matters Peer-to-peer recognition is a major component of a successful engagement program. It is essential to success for colleagues to recognize each other for their hard work and contributions. Managers providing recognition to employees is just the same. Recognition driven by good work creates a different kind of motivation than pre-determined awards, such as service anniversaries and birthdays. A good mixture of both is ideal. Social recognition takes this to the next level.

Social: [adjective]: seeking or enjoying the companionship of others; friendly; sociable; gregarious.

Recognition [noun]: the acknowledgment of achievement, service, merit, etc.

It’s no surprise that social recognition is defined by providing employees with the tools they need to create meaningful relationships with each other, strengthening the bond between the organization’s culture and it’s people. A social community allows colleagues to interact with one another in an online environment where accomplishments are shared and celebrated among peers and teammates. It encourages teamwork and builds relationships in the workplace more instantly than traditional methods. Importantly, online social recognition meets people where they are. In a world where employees are constantly connected, whether at their desks or using a smartphone on the train. Social recognition programs encourage people to stay engaged with the community wherever they are. And the tools for engagement are becoming more familiar. Like Facebook or LinkedIn, they provide an intuitive, user friendly environment. Technology is Our Friend New technology is constantly transforming the workplace. With these new tools, programs are technology and data driven now more than ever. Everything else in our lives involves some sort of technology, so while mailed packets and physical spot award cards are effective, there are so many more opportunities to engage employees with a technologically advanced solution. This could be a mobile app or a mobile-designed platform, email appreciation, or digital reward points, just to name a few. Recently, Next Level Performance was featured as the Company of the Month by HR Tech Outlook magazine being at the forefront of our industry with technology and communications. Through the 40 years we have been providing engagement and recognition solutions, we have embraced the evolution of technology tools and kept our programs rooted in best practices. We are proud to be chosen as a Top 10 Employee Engagement Solution Providers. Your Organization and the Future Social recognition is great way to keep the workforce engaged in a modern way, but it's just one part of an overall successful engagement program to increase motivation and strengthen relationships between people and the organization. Just like any other business strategy, it is important to evaluate your recognition and engagement programs, review results, adapt to environmental changes, and look for improvements. A more social platform can make things easier. Our partnership approach allows us to bring the insights and technology needed for a successful program. Check out Applaudit, our latest recognition solution, and let us know if we can help you!