Recognition- A must have tool

“Flowers blossom in grand style even when there is no one to admire their beauty. Let’s continue our good work honestly even if nobody recognizes us”

Such words are fantasy now, as the reality is far from this, as more and more companies are keen on having best of the best recognition strategies, it has become quite evident in recent times that such quotes are given no value, let the flower blossom in grand style but our employees’ motivation and morale is so shallow that it needs constant reinforcement.

No, the idea is not to dissuade you all from recognizing the efforts of employees or demeaning the value of recognition but inviting a healthy debate as to why so much importance is being given to recognizing the efforts when you have a good compensation package, healthy work environment and other such things to support the employees. Isn't it like offering a bribe in exchange for good work?or getting the work done by fulfilling the conditions in a trade.

In fact, there are some managers who erroneously consider that veiling things under the counter is an apposite way to deal with intricate issues. Such Managers are of the view that the employees who remain in their jobs are blessed to be employed, so if they are given additional responsibilities, they must simply accept them or risk being terminated from the so called blessed jobs and yes, you all must have noticed that this may technically be true; but it is also an insensitive way of treating employees.

There are many studies and research which are evident to show how recognition has become an important tool for the morale of the employees. A similar recent study conducted by the Gallup organization found that employee recognition was one of the 12 key dimensions of great a workplace.

Fortune magazine recently featured the “100 Best Companies to work for in America,” based on the information collected by Hewitt Associates.   According to Hewitt Associates, “the 100 Best are all leaders in their own right when it comes to employee recognition.”

People want to be recognized for their hard work and efforts.  By recognizing peoples’ efforts, ardor and hard work, companies are creating an impervious strength and synergy that inexorably impels the success of any company.

Dr. David G. Javitch states that there are six steps that a company can take to motivate its employees. They are:

# staying gracious

# providing clear leadership

# remaining empathic

# showing responsibility

# communicating openly

# recognizing actions

It seems that a great deal of motivation for workers revolves around maintaining effective communication between the boss and the employee. A person needs to feel like the company listens to their concerns and cares. We still give a lot of importance to recognition and clearly ignore the other significant motivational tools.

By creating an environment where all recognition is not unvarying – and executives commend a job well done ‘on the spot’, the key here is timing. When there is a raison d’être for praising someone don’t put it off for any reason! Celerity equals effectiveness. Praise people when the achievement is fresh on everyone’s mind. Leadership can pervade pride in their organizations and make people feel good about the work they do.

Applauding is another form of effective recognition, be in meetings, conferences of the night of Star of the Month..the reward in hand may not be of as much value as the applaud in front of the peers and subordinates not to forget the gracious seniors.

Getting noticed, recognized and appreciated is the key, this is how our minds are conditioned, and even at home we gift a bicycle if our child gets 90% marks….. give a saree on diwali to the house maid and she will be more loyal to you….budgets are of no importance here, a simple thank you, a pat on the back or just a gesture such as Adi Godrej having lunch in the office canteen with the employees…..and the best thing is it costs nothing. It’s free but still it brings many benefits. ;)

more at http://www.citeman.com/16429-recognition-a-must-have-tool.html#ixzz2Tqt5lkFT

Green is the new Black...

Black is considered as the color of Power and very much a color venerated by Leaders, senior management and a common vista in board rooms. But recently Green is becoming the more prevailing color and the discussion around ‘going green’ is sashaying up in the board rooms as well. Since last few years, environment day, green buildings, earth day and many such initiatives have been in progress by people globally, just to stop human beings to man handle Nature and its resources.

The symbol of power should now be honored with the color Green which is slowly replacing the place of Black in companies with many green projects being taken up by these companies to save the earth from all the annihilation that has been caused by us in past.

This quote explains the agenda very well:

Man has been endowed with reason, with the power to create, so that he can add to what he’s been given.  But up to now he hasn’t been a creator, only a destroyer.  Forests keep disappearing, rivers dry up, wild life becomes extinct, the climate’s ruined and the land grows poorer and uglier every day.  ~Anton Chekhov, Uncle Vanya, 1897

Here are few of the initiatives we can take in order to save the Earth and let’s just not do it one day or one week in the year, let’s celebrate Earth day or environment day every day:

Go paperless when possible

Just formulate guidelines to not print everything, with technology going so advanced with ipads, laptops and what not lets now avoid wastage of paper at every opportunity. Before you click the ‘print’ button, ask yourself, could this be read or stored online instead?

Paperless office should be the new jargon for HR, and why just HR for each department, HR people can kick off the scheme, to post employee manuals and similar materials online, rather than distribute print copies and aren’t they much easier to update that way too ;)

Go Green

Concepts such as alternate and renewable sources of energy, recycling,e-waste management, green architecture, green computing, adoption of eco-friendly solutions are also becoming part of ‘Go Green’ initiative and gaining priority on corporate agendas.

Go green by offering savings to shoppers who bring reusable shopping bags to stores, or provide bags which are made of jute, cloth or any such material which can be reused or recycled.

One company owns and operates enormous “e-waste” recycling plants that shred discarded, obsolete computer products into raw materials that can be recycled into the industrial food chain.

Pace up with recycling

Inclination to recycle everything should be the motto, any kind of paper you would bump into in an office, one sided printed papers, fax papers, envelopes or junk mail, everything can be recycled.

In fact, now your cell phones, PDAs and digital diaries can also be recycled, just find a way.

Placing recycling bins in accessible, high-traffic areas with Bin colors indicating clear information about what can and can not be recycled.

Bank of America is one such example, and the company also runs an internal recycling program that recycles 30,000 tons of paper each year, good for saving roughly 200,000 trees for each year of the program’s operation. Many other companies have reduced the use of paper drastically.

Green Buildings

Wikipedia defines Green Buildings:

New technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:

• Efficiently using energy, water and other resources

• Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity

• Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation
• 
  

Here are some other things which can be done to make your building eco friendly:

Adding effective insulation and reflective roof coatings to lower energy consumption.

Maximizing natural light with skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows, using glazed windows to reduce cooling and heating requirements and having windows that open.

Indoor plants which not only makes the environment eco friendly but also are wonderful for decorations and are soothing to the eyes.

Furniture made of recycled wood can be used or old furniture can be resold to companies that can recycle them.

Some other day to day  schemes:

Encouraging turning off and/or unplugging all lights and electronic equipment (computers, monitors, photocopiers, cell phone chargers, printers, radios, etc.) when not in use, and fully utilizing power-saving settings when in use

Recycling and refilling ink cartridges for our printers

Replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs when they need to be replaced, internally and externally.

Utilizing online Webinars/ Video conferencing for meetings that involve people who might otherwise have to travel a long distance.

Bring into play carpool and use of public transportation, with the Metro now it has become very much possible in places like Delhi.

So, Start being Friendly … ECO FRIENDLY :)

more at http://www.citeman.com/16769-green-is-the-new-black.html#ixzz2Tqh0bwHX