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.
—Doug Conant, former President and CEO, Campbell Soup Co.

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.

6.1 Recognition levels

6.1.1 Top-down

6.1.2 Peer

6.1.3 360-degree

6.2 Effective recognition principles

6.2.1 Timely

6.2.2 Frequent

6.2.3 Specific

6.2.4 Visible

6.2.5 Fair

6.3 Forms of recognition

6.3.1 Group recognition

6.3.2 Individual recognition

6.4 Stop and think: Practice questions

Summary