The Truth About Managing People, Third Edition

Truth 20. Recognition Motivates (and It Costs Very Little)

A few years back, 1,500 employees in a variety of work settings were surveyed to find out what they considered to be the most powerful workplace motivator. Their response? Recognition, recognition, and more recognition! Another study found that employees rated personal thanks from a manager for a job well done as the most motivating of a variety of incentives offered. But, unfortunately, 58 percent of the workers in this study said their managers didn’t typically give such thanks.

In today’s highly competitive global economy, most organizations are under severe cost pressures. That makes recognition programs particularly attractive. Why? In contrast to most other motivators, recognizing ...