The half people forget.
WHY IT MATTERS
People who feel unnoticed disengage, and the good ones leave.
WHAT MAKES RECOGNITION EFFECTIVE
Specific Timely Genuine Proportionate
WHAT MAKES IT USELESS
Generic praise Praise for everything Praise that is obviously routine
WHY GENERIC PRAISE FAILS
It carries no information and it is recognised as filler.
WHAT SPECIFIC LOOKS LIKE
Naming what they did and why it mattered.
WHERE TO GIVE IT
Publicly, where appropriate, and privately always.
WHY BOTH
Public recognition signals what is valued; private recognition is personal.
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL WITH
Consistently recognising the same people Recognising visible work over essential invisible work
WHAT INVISIBLE WORK LOOKS LIKE
Maintenance Helping others Preventing problems Documentation
WHY IT IS UNDERVALUED
Nothing visibly happens when it is done well.
WHAT TO DO
Notice it deliberately.
WHAT TO ASK YOURSELF
Who has not been recognised recently.
WHAT NON-FINANCIAL RECOGNITION INCLUDES
Interesting work Autonomy Development opportunities Being consulted
WHY THOSE MATTER
They are frequently valued more than small financial rewards.
WHAT TO AVOID
Substituting recognition for fair pay.
