Give Your Company Culture a Boost by Keeping Your Teams Motivated

By Cindy Mielke

Companies have a lot on their plates. Not only do they need to manage their budgets and keep their customers satisfied, but sustainable profits often hinge on creating streamlined operations. Still, one of the most critical business functions is attracting top employees.

Unfortunately, simply attracting top talent is only half the battle. Companies need to look for more ways to keep their teams motivated and performing at their best to maximize the value they can bring. This, admittedly, though, isn’t always easy to do.

However, there are several practical approaches businesses can take to help establish a proactive workforce while simultaneously building a strong company culture. This begins by recognizing and valuing each team member’s daily contributions.

The Impact Employee Recognition Has On Your Business

All business leaders have different perspectives on employee appreciation. Some feel like a good salary should be enough when proving to an employee their worth to the organization. However, others see regular public recognition as essential for keeping a team engaged and motivated.

Acknowledging employee achievements year-round can profoundly influence their commitment to the company and their desire to improve.

Below are some of the main reasons why prioritizing employee recognition is crucial for today’s business owners and managers:

Better Engagement

How well an employee performs directly correlates with how important they feel their role is. When teams feel like their work has a real purpose for the business, they’re naturally inclined to deliver better outcomes for the company.

On the other hand, if employees think their contributions don’t matter, they’re less likely to go the extra mile. When everyone in the business knows the company values their hard work, it creates a much more positive atmosphere, ultimately leading to higher-quality work being delivered across the board.

Unlocks More Creativity

A company culture that welcomes and commends creative thinking can unlock untapped potential within the business. If employees feel empowered to take more calculated risks and question the status quo, they’re far more likely to share great ideas.

Sadly, many employees hesitate to go outside the lines, particularly when their employers don’t acknowledge any extra initiatives they may take. However, by creating the right atmosphere in the office, you can encourage a free flow of fresh perspectives, giving your business a distinct advantage over other organizations that lack the same creative energy.

Increases Employee Value

Hiring talented individuals is only the first step to helping your business succeed. To maximize the company’s potential, it requires a regular effort. To help employees grow and continuously exceed expectations, you must have the right team environment in place.

When team members feel safe expressing their thoughts and viewpoints, they’re more likely to continue contributing meaningfully over time. This helps to encourage more teamwork, which inspires others to achieve more for themselves and the organization.

Reduces Stress

Unfortunately, many business environments can significantly contribute to employee stress. The pressure of meeting regular deadlines and always having heavy workloads can, over time, negatively impact both the physical and mental well-being of employees.

Acknowledging your employees’ needs and providing opportunities to recharge can bring lasting benefits to your company’s culture. It helps to minimize the risk of negativity taking root and instead helps employees feel appreciated and supported for the work they put in.

Effective Ways to Build a Healthier Company Culture

A great company culture doesn’t just appear out of nowhere, and it’s not something you can leave employees to figure out on their own. Creating an environment where everyone excels takes careful planning and ongoing commitment.

Here are some practical approaches to make your team feel valued for their contributions:

Provide Regular Feedback

Regular, constructive feedback is important for an employee’s personal and professional growth. It provides your staff with valuable insight into their strengths and areas where they can improve.

When giving feedback, aim for specifics, particularly when giving someone commendations. Instead of a generic “good job” or “thanks,” provide them with a more detailed explanation of what the employee did exceptionally well and how.

By pinpointing specific areas of progress, you can help reassure employees that they’re on the right track and motivate them to continue.

Show Public Forms of Praise

Acknowledging employee accomplishments in front of their peers is a powerful way to show that your company truly values its people and their hard work. This simple act can significantly increase morale and create lasting positive effects on both the individual and the organization.

Consider using team meetings to highlight any outstanding work completed by various departments. This might involve recognizing successful project deliveries or hitting an important business goal.

No matter how you choose to recognize individual successes, doing so in a public setting is an excellent way to keep your team engaged and inspired.

Encourage Peer-to-Peer Recognition

While praise from managers is important, recognition from colleagues can be just as impactful, if not more so. Implementing a peer-to-peer recognition system is a fantastic way to achieve this.

These systems don’t need to be overly structured, but employees should have clear guidelines on their purpose and use. Many companies find success in creating a “shout-out” channel on platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams. This allows fellow employees to readily acknowledge and appreciate each other’s contributions.

This approach ensures that everyone’s hard work is seen, even the smaller, less visible tasks that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Celebrate Important Milestones

Acknowledging professional and personal milestones in your employees’ lives can be very impactful. For example, celebrating work anniversaries, promotions, or even personal wins demonstrates that you’re invested in recognizing and appreciating their achievements in and out of the office.

Another great idea is to consider giving small gift cards to employees once they hit certain milestones. Regardless of their value, these tokens of appreciation can go a long way with many employees.

Establish a Company Culture That Drives Business Success

A company’s success is directly tied to the dedication and output of its workforce. Nurturing a workplace known for its positive atmosphere and supportive teams will ensure continuous growth for your employees and the business.

Cindy is passionate about the incentive industry. In addition to her role as Vice President of Strategic Partners at Tango, she is a Certified Professional of Incentive Management who proudly serves on two industry boards. When she’s not working, Cindy enjoys spending time with her family—including three cats, two dogs, and a horse—and sharing her love of nature as a Nebraska Master Naturalist.