Private recognition acknowledges one person’s contribution in a setting limited to the recipient and selected participants. It gives personal appreciation without the wider visibility of public recognition. section 6.2.4 section 6.3.2
Use private recognition to make individual appreciation specific and meaningful:
- Give clear, concise feedback that identifies the person’s contribution and removes ambiguity about its value. section 6.3.2 section 6.5
- Ask about recognition preferences early, such as during an initial one-on-one, because some employees prefer privacy while others prefer a combination of private and public acknowledgment. section 6.3.2
- Record recognized achievements for future performance reviews so important contributions are not forgotten. section 6.3.2
- Consider monetary rewards for high performers or recognize individuals as subject-matter experts and go-to people for areas they own. section 6.5
A tailored acknowledgment
During a one-on-one, a manager gives concise feedback about an employee’s specific contribution, asks whether private or public acknowledgment feels meaningful, and preserves the achievement for a later performance review. section 6.3.2 section 6.5
