When it comes to getting management buy-in for your employee recognition program, you need to show them the numbers. Results, facts and data are the language of the top suite, so be prepared with resources from these top organizations. 

Management support is a vital part of a successful recognition program, especially when a program is just beginning. This month, we’ll bring you tips and ideas to help gain and maintain management buy-in for your recognition program. Whether you are starting a new recognition program this year or trying to preserve momentum internally, these tips will help! 

Also this month, we will be discussing management buy-in for our first Recognition TV webisode of the new year. Don’t miss any of our tips, watch the webisode today! 

Most of the time, I cruise along, churning out competent work that everyone is happy with. Once in a while, I knock something out of the park and, on occasion, I flat out fail. This probably describes many people’s day-to-day work life, or at least I’d like to think so. (That you’re all human, I mean).

A couple of months ago, I had one of those crash and burn moments and, I have to tell you, it really stunk. It hurt my confidence so badly that I wasn’t sure I was going to bounce back. But eventually I did, and in doing so, redeemed my reputation with my colleagues. I also got a high five from someone whose opinion in this company really matters—our CEO.

It was around this same time that I was working on a really tough project that required me to think analytically, rather than the way I normally think, which is random, scatterbrained, and…ooh, look, it’s snowing outside!

Everyone knew this was so not the job for me; but, for a number of different reasons, I was doing it. At a particularly frustrating point in this task, our VP of Product & Merchandising stopped by and rewarded me with something she knows I value greatly: a casual day.

After these two experiences, I was really struck by how easy (and cheap) it can be to make a person feel good. I felt encouraged. And motivated. And really happy that I was noticed and valued for my contributions.

With so many companies still struggling through the economic downturn, it’s reassuring to know that there are affordable (even free) ways to recognize your employees for their hard work and dedication.     

As you plunge into the New Year, think about how you can make an impact on employee morale through simple acts of recognition and appreciation. That’s what we had on our minds when we developed this new, low-cost product:

Give out a casual day, consider these new “I earned a casual day” stickers.

Even if you love your job, you probably still spend a little time Sunday night in denial that Monday is just a few hours away. I do and I do.

But last Monday was different, because several of us in Baudville’s creative group were looking forward to an afternoon field trip to a letterpress studio in downtown Grand Rapids. One of our design interns has a small setup called Not Design and she was more than happy to let us invade her space for a few hours to learn about old-school printmaking—a very hands-on process that’s a far cry from the high-tech computerized graphic design and desktop publishing tools we use today.

Award ceremonies are common during the fourth quarter as organizations host holiday gatherings and recognize the outstanding performances from the year. When planning your award ceremony and award presentation, make sure you also plan photo opportunities with the award winners. 

You can use pictures of your award ceremony in many ways. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. Here are five uses of award ceremony pictures: