S P E C I A L    F O C U S

Getting Started with
Employee
Recognition

BY JOSEPH DeLUCE, CPRP

The old-style management practice of "leave alone then zap" no longer works. Today's employees want to be recognized for doing an outstanding job. So, if you want to be an effective manager and supervisor, you need to get out of your office and catch people doing something right. When you catch them doing something right, tell them they are doing a great job.

Here are some employee recognition ideas that anyone can use.

• Start in your immediate sphere of influence. Motivation is very personal, and to be successful with it you need to operate at a very immediate, personal, one-on-one level.

• Do one thing differently. The best goals are attainable, reasonable goals, so it may be best to suggest to managers that they only focus on doing one thing differently. It's far better to have managers focus on one thing that can be consistently done than a dozen things that all go to the wayside once managers step back into their old routines. For example, start each staff meeting with good news and praise for individuals who deserve it.

	"There's a big difference between getting people to come to work and getting them to do their best work." — Bob Nelson, best-selling author of 1001 Ways To Reward Employees

• Involve individuals you are trying to motivate. Bring up the topic of recognition and ask the question: Does anyone think we need to do more recognition around here? I've never heard of any employee saying " I get too much recognition where I work." Have employees create their own rewards program. Remember, the best management is what you do with people, not what you do to them. Make employees partners in their own success.

• Ask employees what motivates them. Make time to spend with each employee, finding out where they want to go with their career, their personal hobbies and their family situation. By helping them reach their goals you can unleash an excitement and commitment for them to want to do their absolute best to help you and the organization succeed.

• Focus on what you can do, not what you can't do. Many times public organizations must be careful how they use public funds for recognition activities. Instead of dwelling on what you can't do, focus on the hundreds of things you can do. For example simply providing information can be very rewarding. Everyone wants to know what is going on especially if it affects them. For example, if the park district is going to build a new park or hire a new director, tell employees before it comes out in the newspaper.

• Don't expect to do recognition perfectly. Some managers attempt recognition activities, then abandon their efforts because they didn't feel they were initially successful. Be sincere and have fun and you will seldom go wrong!

• Interesting work. All employees should have at least part of their jobs be of high interest to them.

July/August 2001 | 19

S P E C I A L    F O C U S

Inexpensive Ways To Reward Your Staff

• Say thanks to staff for doing a great job.
• Add a gold star on a note to staff.
• Give birthday cards to all your staff.
• Provide free passes to your facilities.
• Create an awards program for staff (e.g., 110% Award for giving extra effort).
• Name a program after your staff (e.g., "Search for John Smith Volleyball Tournament").
• Make breakfast for your staff.
• Highlight your staff in your program brochure.
• Praise staff in meetings.
• Make homemade cookies for your staff.

Ideas To Recognize and Motivate Your Staff

• Listen.
• Keep staff informed.
• Involve staff in decisions.
• Make work FUN.
• Catch staff doing something right.
• Reward outstanding behavior.
• Celebrate successes.
• Provide training.
• Thank staff personally.
• Encourage staff initiative. •

JOSEPH DeLUCE, CPRP,
is the director of recreation for the Champaign Park District and has presented a session, "101 Ways to Reward Staff" of the NRPA Congress and the IAPD/IPRA Annual Conference. Many of the ideas for this article come from Bob Nelson's book 1001 Ways To Reward Employees and from the author's own personal experience of recognizing and motivating pork and recreation employees for the past 21 years.

101 WAYS TO REWARD STAFF
say thanks written notes smile praise staff meetings involve staff listen promote staff latitude to do job public praise job swapping evaluate agency open door use staff ideas give credit inform staff say HI! conduct rounds evaluate staff set own goals acting supervisor budget supplements ask for advice job title change training retreats regular meetings highlight in brochure highlight in paper temp parking space staff of the month staff award program years of service award kudos kard program staff volunteer award 110% award employee idea award Spirit of Fred award	top banana award customer care award miscellaneous contests free passes day off staff outings casual dress day exercise time free classes family pool pass road rally for staff book or magazine CD or tape answer telephone special coupon better office service pins award named for staff hall of fame photos e-mail a thanks staff thank other staff Post-its all over office homemade cookies cook breakfast party at your house contests at meetings staff host a meeting staff committees community meetings discounts for staff birthday cards goody bag make a sticker gold stars casino party pay for education	5 year $500 bonus staff events pay staff more money ask for input staff newsletter attend conferences staff jackets gift certificates cross pen lunch with the boss movie at lunch ugly tie contest note on business card paper clip jewelry soft drink flexible work hours wow cards for staff monthly potlucks make a card staff in training video free massage candy bar hot air balloon ride rent a car cookout rent a billboard facility plaque letter of recognition tickets to events birthday cake great assignments group day off event round of golf purchase computer - Joseph DeLuce, CPRP

20 | Illinois Parks and Recreation