6 Rewards and recognition
This chapter covers
- The importance of recognizing your team’s development
- Aspects of effective recognition
- Ways to recognize and reward others
- Nuances of handling recognition at different levels
To win in the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace.
Early in my career, as I reflected on my first six months of being an engineering manager (EM), I realized that I had overlooked a crucial aspect of leadership: rewards and recognition. Despite my team members’ dedication, I hadn’t acknowledged their contributions. Through research and discussions, I discovered the transformative power of recognition in boosting job satisfaction and fostering collaboration. I learned that recognition isn’t just about rewarding achievements but also about nurturing a sense of belonging and purpose within the team.
Armed with this understanding, I started to acknowledge my team members through various strategies that I will share shortly, including personalized thank-you notes and team outings, yielding remarkable results. This chapter underscores the importance of rewards and recognition in empowering teams.