Our team just got back from Boston and the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Education Forum and Annual Meeting. What a whirlwind! Even though the Office Expo is only two days, they were both incredibly busy! 

If you’re reading this post, then most likely you’re an advocate of employee recognition.  If you’re a recognition advocate, then I’m sure at some point you’ve felt like a lone wolf.  Even though the link between genuine expressions of appreciation and improved performance is intuitive to us, it seems like “fluff” to many managers, supervisors and informal leaders. 

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine you are in location surrounded by like-minded people—colleagues in the science, application and advancement of employee recognition practices. 

Last week I made the case for “why” to recognize nurses during National Nurses Week, so I thought this week it would be helpful to talk about “how.”

We know nurses are always on the go, on their feet, and on their game. So, why not give them the gift of:

Convenience. Travel mugs, tote bags, and key chains are all gifts that busy professionals can use every day. Plus, they give a constant reminder of your appreciation.

Comfort. Being run ragged all day can take its toll. Our Recognition Moments Tin has as assortment of 25 soothing gifts to give your nurses a little breather. This tin has enough to recognize your entire staff, and the variety of items means you’ll find something for everyone.

Encouragement. Remember what I said about thankless? Sometimes people just want to know that they’re appreciated. A simple thank you card with a personalized, handwritten note can go a long way.

Opportunity. Breaks don’t come often in the nursing profession. A little time off—or something just as valuable like a free lunch, snack, or coffee—could be all your nurses need to recharge. Our On-the-Go Appreciation Kit has fill-in notes and coupons that let you choose what you want to give.  

Admiration. Show them some respect by giving a gift they will wear with pride. Themed badge reels and lapel pins attach perfectly to scrubs and carry inspiring messages that your nurses will be thrilled to show off.

So, there you go! You have the who (nurses), what & how (see above), where (in their natural habitat, of course), when (May 6-12) and why. Now, go out there and celebrate National Nurses Week!

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Thanks to everyone who attended our live video webisode this morning! If you weren’t able to attend, you can view the recorded version in the Recognition TV section of our website or on our Facebook page. 

Today, I shared three steps to starting a recognition program and hopefully showed you that a recognition program isn’t hard to start or maintain. It just takes a little bit of planning up front. 

Teacher Appreciation Week starts May 3, one week from today, and if you haven’t planned anything for your teachers yet, don’t worry. You still have plenty of time! I recently received lots of good ideas in my inbox from to Dr. Diane Hodges, a recognition champion and experienced educator. Diane has really creative ideas that are perfect for appreciating educators, and I wanted to share some of her ideas with you. For more of Dr. Hodge’s ideas for teacher and staff appreciation, visit her website or register for her newsletter. The ideas listed below are from Dr. Hodge's new book, Season it with Fun.  

Working Together is Paradise!
Set a festive, tropical theme for the week. Encourage staff members to wear tropical clothing that reflects the theme-flowered shirts and dresses, straw hats, etc. Decorate the staff lounge with palm trees, parrots, tiki lights, etc. Have daily drawings and award the winners with tropical items such as a pineapple, flamingo items, and other fun, inexpensive prizes.