Monday, January 16, 2012

Recognition is Key - How to Reward Your Top Performers

The New Year has begun, but with its beginning came the close of 2011 - a year filled with accomplishments and perhaps a few regrets.  As B.F. Skinner recognized in his behavioral conditioning theories, if we are to perpetuate good things for this year and forever in the future, we must reward those behaviors we want to see continue indefinitely.  This comes in handy for team leaders and department managers across all industries - if we want our team members to continue their accomplishments, we must recognize their accomplishments if are to see them repeat those accomplishments and reach even greater goals.

A simple, yet effective way of recognizing these achievements is with custom awards, trophies, or plaques.  No good deed should go disregarded if we truly appreciate our team members' contributions to our success as a work group.  By recognizing the team member who has played the strongest role, met the highest goals, or other measurable achievements, we support the original mission our organization proclaims to uphold.  Without recognition, a mission statement or goal that has been has no real value.

Team awards are often needed for group-oriented projects so the synergy of the team is recognized as more valuable than one person's contributions.  However an effective way to give kudos to a particular team member who went beyond the rest of the group for the greater good is by providing a personalized award for that member, while providing the entire team with a common award.

Choosing custom awards can be daunting with the thousands of options available, but often there are awards whose designs will stand out as being more original than the rest of the styles.  For example, a glass light bulb sculpture could recognize an electrical engineering team member's work, or a fiery red glowing orb could honor an up-and-coming clothing designer with bold taste.  Creativity is the key to selecting the perfect award or trophy.  Many designs can be customized, as they are available in single quantity orders.

Start designing your own award, or choose from thousands of stock trophies and plaques that can be customized with engraving or name plates.  Reward your team members who stretch beyond their boundaries with custom awards.  Truly, there's no limit to what the imagination can design.       

Bronze Awards

Crystal Awards   

Marble Plaques

Custom Plaques