Recognition Practices
Search these practices for new ideas on how to recognize colleagues. Add your own best practices so others can benefit from your experience.
Support Professional Development
Encourage team members to seek out professional development opportunities that interest them and that support current and future unit programs and initiatives. Units should provide financial support when possible. This will demonstrate the unit’s commitment to developing team members and considering them for advancement opportunities.
Chris Yohe
Safety and Security Administration
Superhero Award
IRB Office Marvel Superhero Although it may have started as a tiny, humorous statue being passed around at monthly staff meetings to recognize individual talents & contributions, I think the IRB Office Marvel Superhero award grew to become something so much more/better/fun/awesome with the onset of the global COVID pandemic. On a base level, it is a statue that is given at the monthly all-staff meeting during a time at the beginning specifically dedicated for acknowledging individual team members. Its fun, its thoughtful, and reinforces a culture of recognition. But the award goes beyond just displaying appreciation for the unique contributions of IRB Office staff. Its used as a way to exemplify how individuals have gone ‘above and beyond,’ exhibiting the OR Values in a meaningful way and acting as a true role model for others to look to (professionally and personally). Its also a way for leadership in the IRB to demonstrate that these conversations and supporting one another is truly, meaningfully, important. Positive affirmation is not just a nice thing to have, it’s a way to keep people engaged and interested in the work itself. The award brought levity and much needed positivity throughout the COVID pandemic, and is a great way for staff on all levels to meaningfully connect and model taking time to appreciate one another.
Beth Irwin
IRB Office
Microaffirmations
Microaffirmations - include nods, facial expressions, choices of words, and tones of voice that convey inclusion, caring, and listening.
Judy Moskowitz
Feinberg
Feinberg Service Excellence Program
Feinberg has a service excellence program to honor staff who have gone above and beyond, who have helped solve complex and diverse institutional challenges, and whose leadership and dedication are deserving of praise. Nominations are submitted online, and the awardee receives email notification of nomination and a certificate, in addition to being recognized during Feinberg Staff Town Halls.
Kathleen Dunne Balducci
Feinberg
Recognizing Team Members' Strengths to Their Accomplishments
Link team members' strengths to their accomplishments. If the team has taken an assessment such as DISC or CliftonStrengths, then it can be powerful to reinforce strengths or attributes from the assessment and how they show up as valuable for others.
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Office of Human Resources
Take employees out to lunch
When a team performs admirably and meets its goals, a meal is a great way to celebrate. Having lunch outings, in person or over a Zoom meeting, allows managers to give kudos to their employees and engage in a more casual setting. This could be funded by the department if funding is available, or each could pay for themselves.
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Human Resources
Professional Development Opportunities
Understanding your employee’s strengths and supporting their development is an important role as a leader. Are there any upcoming projects in which you think your employee's strengths will shine? Involve them! It shows that you trust in their abilities and growth.
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Human Resources
Team Swag
Swag provides a physical connection between people and where they work. Northwestern branded swag can be purchased at the Athletics website or the Northwestern Spirit Shop at Norris Bookstore.
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Human Resources
Coffee or Lunch Outing
If your employee isn’t one for public recognition, try a private coffee or lunch with just the two of you instead.
This will allow a quiet space for you to express gratitude towards your employee and their hard work. This could be funded by the department if funding is available, or each could pay for themselves.
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Human Resources
The Traveling Trophy
Peers are awarded based upon their performance on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. The selected peer will then choose the next trophy holder. This trophy is recommended to be tangible and fun!
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Human Resources
Appreciation Flip Chart Exercise
Create a flipchart for each team member with their name at the top. Have all team members write a statement on the flipchart stating what they appreciate about that person. Post it notes can also be used.
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Human Resources
Gratitude Round Robin
Each team member takes a turn expressing gratitude to another team member. Keep going until each team member has received gratitude from at least one colleague.
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Human Resources
Thank You Notes
Give each team member a box of thank you notes. Encourage them to use the notes to thank colleagues. Notes can also be posted on a bulletin board.
Talent Development & Well-being
Human Resources
Add Celebrations to Team Agenda
Create an agenda item for your team meetings for celebration. Managers can recognize team members for service anniversaries, birthdays, and other milestones. Accomplishments and praise from stakeholders can also be shared.
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Human Resources
Favorites List
When new staff members join the team, ask them to list their favorite foods, drinks, entertainment, and any other categories you wish. Reference the list when you want to recognize people. They will appreciate getting something they like, and that their manager took the time and effort to personalize the gift.
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Human Resources
Kellogg 'You Rock' Program
Kellogg provides a form for staff recognition. Winners are chosen and receive a cash award.
Jennifer Wilson
Kellogg
MS Teams Praise
Use the 'Praise' feature in MS Teams to recognize a colleague. Choose the Praise icon (looks like a medal) in Chat or Teams message. Select a badge and write a personalized message. Be specific about what the recipient did and the impact it had. Preview and send!
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Human Resources
Thank You Email
Send a heartfelt email thanking someone for what they did. Copy their supervisor. Be sure to mention specifically what you found valuable and the impact it had.
Talent Development & Well-being Team
Human Resources