What is recognition at work?

Recognition at work is a formal acknowledgment of an employee’s positive work performance. This recognition usually comes from an employee’s coworkers, manager or department supervisor. Work recognition can come in many forms, such as an email of appreciation, a comment during a team meeting or a company award. Receiving recognition at work helps employees feel valued for their contributions and motivates them to continue doing their best work.

How to get recognition at work

Here are some steps you can take to get recognition at work:

1. Communicate with your manager

It’s important to have regular discussions with your manager about your work responsibilities and performance. This can help ensure your manager understands the scope of your work on various tasks and projects. You can email your manager quick updates or schedule regular meetings to discuss your progress on assignments. When you go beyond the expectations for an assignment, include that information in your updates. For example, if you stayed late to finish a project by the deadline, let your manager know. This can help your manager understand the work you do to meet or exceed expectations.

2. Build relationships

Developing relationships with your coworkers can be helpful to get more recognition from your peers. These relationships can help your coworkers understand the work you do and the contributions you make to the team. Start conversations with your coworkers and show interest in their work. It’s also helpful to build relationships with people who work in other departments to help you gain more recognition across the company. Say hello to people you pass in the hallway and participate in office events. Building relationships with your coworkers can make them more likely to recognize you for your work.

3. Acknowledge your efforts

When you work hard on an assignment, take time to recognize yourself for your efforts. While it may be uncomfortable to give yourself this praise at first, acknowledging your own work can help ensure that others also show you recognition. While discussing a project in a meeting, explain how your work contributed to the final outcome. If you had a successful interaction with a client, communicate that achievement to your team or manager. When working as part of a team, make sure that you also recognize the contributions of others, which can make them more likely to acknowledge your work.

4. Observe others

There may be people on your team or in the company who receive consistent recognition and praise for their work. Observe those employees to help you understand why they’re receiving this acknowledgment. Consider what they may do differently than you in their performance or interactions with others. Try to model their behavior and actions so you can also get recognition from others. For example, if you notice your manager usually praises a coworker for helping others with their assignments, let your team know you’re available to offer assistance when needed.

5. Work hard

It’s important to do your job well so you can show why you deserve positive feedback from others. If there are skills you can improve to enhance your work performance, take active steps to make those changes. Become an expert in one aspect of your job so that others know they can rely on you to provide quality information in that area. Volunteer to help your coworkers with their tasks to show you’re a team player who can handle additional responsibilities. Working hard at your job can make it more likely for your manager or coworkers to show you recognition.

6. Seek awards

Receiving formal awards for your work performance can help show your coworkers and manager that you deserve recognition. Look for awards that you may be eligible for in your industry and submit an application for consideration. Research past award winners to see some of the skills and qualifications the organization or committee may value in applicants. If your company gives out awards for performance, ask your manager or a trusted coworker how you can improve your chances of receiving the award.

7. Recognize others

If you want to get recognition for your own work, it’s important that you show this same recognition to others. Compliment a coworker for their successful completion of a project or publicly acknowledge a teammate who assisted you with a task. Showing this recognition for others can help you build relationships with your coworkers and create an environment where team members share positive feedback with each other. By showing this recognition to coworkers, you’re modeling the behavior you want others to show you.Read more: Peer Recognition: Definition and Ideas for Recognizing Your Peers

8. Be gracious

When your coworkers or manager take time to give you recognition, accept their compliments graciously. Show your appreciation by acknowledging their comment and saying thank you. Keeping your response simple can help you take credit for your achievements in a professional manner. For example, you may choose to respond to a compliment by saying, “Thank you. I worked hard on that task and I appreciate the acknowledgment.” When you receive recognition graciously, you show that you can maintain a professional standard while taking pride in your work.

Benefits of recognition at work

Here are a few benefits of receiving recognition at work for your performance:

Motivation

Getting recognition from your coworkers or manager can motivate you to continue doing your job well. When you receive positive feedback about your performance, you understand what your team or manager values about your work. This can motivate you to continue meeting expectations for your performance, which can give you more pride in your work.