Press Release

Add On-the-spot Recognition To Your Motivational Tool Kit

On-the-spot recognition is the low-cost, high-impact way to recognize and reward employees for a job well done. A new “Thank You Kit” provides everything managers need to use this important motivational tool.

(Boonton, NJ, Mar 31, 2009) — Results of the Customer Service Group’s 2009 Salary and Incentives Survey show a growing interest in management-delivered “spot” rewards — rewards that can be offered on the spot (or as soon as possible after a positive behavior) to reward frontline reps and other service providers for a job well done.

As one survey participant noted, “Great performance can’t be predicted on a regular basis but it should be recognized and rewarded when it happens.”

The Customer Service Group provides the following guidelines for managers considering spot recognition. The program should provide:

• Timely recognition. Employees want, and need, immediate feedback about their work. They don’t want to wait until their annual performance review to be recognized for their accomplishments.
• Public recognition. The presentation should be in full view of the recipient’s peers in a way that ties the award directly to the behavior.
• Motivation for all team members. Recognition and rewards will encourage desired behaviors so managers must be alert to signs of these behaviors even from their weakest performers and be ready to coach them toward success and recognition.
• Clear and easy-to-understand criteria. People must know exactly what behaviors are desired and will be rewarded.
• Meaningful, low cost awards. Managers should not delay the reward by spending time shopping for the perfect gift or requesting discretionary funds. A high quality note card with the appropriate message is one of the best rewards.
• Easy to implement. For a spot recognition program to be effective, it must be on-going and consistent. This means that managers must have all the tools they need close at hand.