Getting Started

Promoting a recognition culture and encouraging others to do the same is as easy as 1-2-3!

Getting Started - 1

Understand Importance

Understand why recognition matters and makes a difference in team morale

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Getting Started - 2

Discover Opportunities

Explore formal and informal opportunities to recognize your team members

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Getting Started - 3

Take
Responsibility

Continue to promote recognition by being aware of your role & engaging sincerely

Who should recognition come from?

Every state team member should be encouraged to recognize other team members for a job well done. Rewards and recognition is about creating a culture of appreciation throughout Missouri State Government! This includes recognition from:

  • Top-Down: Leaders and supervisors show appreciation for the contributions of their team members
  • Bottom-Up: Team members recognize managers, supervisors, or other leaders
  • Peer-to-Peer: An expression of appreciation between coworkers
  • Cross-Department: Team members recognizing the efforts of someone from another department or agency

When should I begin recognizing a team member?

It is never too early to begin thinking about recognizing a team member. In fact, onboarding provides an excellent opportunity to begin creating a culture of appreciation. Not only can you learn valuable information about a new team member to help you recognize them in the future, but you could also use this as an opportunity to communicate the importance of recognition and showing appreciation for team members.

It is also never too late to start promoting a recognition culture amongst your team. The key is to make sure that recognition is timely, consistent, specific and meaningful for the team member. 

What should team members be recognized for?

The possibilities are endless—just be sure to recognize team members for behaviors that are considered valuable. You may also consider the level of recognition most appropriate depending on the action or accomplishment. Recognition can be as simple and informal as a “thank you,” or as formal as nominating someone for a department or statewide award. Keep in mind that effective praise is frequent, so it is important to recognize your team regularly for a job well done.

It is also important to engage with your teams to best understand what motivates them as an individual and to get a sense for what types of things they like. For example, you would want to be sure that if you are rewarding team members with food that you are aware of any potential dietary restrictions. Consider having your team members fill out a Team Member Preferences Form that you can keep on file to help you with these decisions as they come.