How Does Peer-To-Peer Recognition Benefit the Workplace?
Employee recognition is one of the most important aspects of a successful workplace. By introducing peer appreciation into your company you can elevate your culture, drive job satisfaction and create a collaborative environment. Furthermore, employees who receive recognition are 20 times more likely to be engaged, showing just how powerful appreciation can be.
So, are you ready to boost your workplace? Keep reading to discover the top benefits of peer-to-peer recognition, how to set up a successful programme and how we can help you recognise, repeat for maximum impact!
WHAT IS PEER-TO-PEER RECOGNITION?
Peer-to-peer recognition, also sometimes referred to as simply peer recognition, is where employees show appreciation and gratitude towards one another in the workplace. Unlike traditional recognition models which are based on hierarchies, peer recognition encourages individuals of all levels, across all departments within a business, to shine a spotlight on the achievements and actions of their colleagues. This could be done through a variety of different methods, whether it’s sending emails, sharing updates in company meetings, posting on an intranet, or through an online recognition platform.
By empowering everyone from junior members of the team to C-suite leaders to recognise others, you’ll naturally build a culture of appreciation that positively impacts your people and your business. If you’re looking to grow, improve and energise your company, a good peer-to-peer recognition programme is essential!
WHY IS A PEER-TO-PEER RECOGNITION PROGRAMME SO IMPORTANT?
For modern-day businesses, having a peer-to-peer recognition scheme in place is vital – and it seems we’re not alone in thinking it. Research revealed that 55% of C-suite executives want to create peer-to-peer recognition programmes as a priority. Why? Because not only do they help build a supportive company culture and reinforce positive behaviours, but they also bring a wealth of other benefits – we’ll go into some of them below!
When people feel appreciated, they’re more likely to go the extra mile because they know their efforts aren’t going unnoticed. Therefore, if you create a culture where peers recognise each other for their achievements, you can motivate your team to try harder and push for more, ultimately engaging with them in a way that boosts both them and your business. It’s a win-win, really!
BOOSTS EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION
By introducing a peer-to-peer recognition programme into your business and making it accessible to all, you can encourage your team to say thanks to their colleagues, whether they’re apprentices or C-suite executives. This openness helps break down social barriers caused by hierarchies to develop a culture which thrives on equality, respect and collaboration between individuals of all experience levels.
CREATES EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE
Peer recognition helps bring people from across the business together to celebrate successes and lift one another up. In turn, this improves collaboration and communication within the team as there are more opportunities for people to connect with their colleagues. This healthy, open atmosphere creates a better workplace culture where people can reach their full potential.
ENCOURAGES BETTER COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION
Worried about employee turnover? While it’s natural for people to come and go within your business, it’s worth ensuring that you have the right tools and processes in place to minimise the number of employees moving elsewhere. That’s where peer appreciation can help! One of the most common reasons employees leave their companies is that they feel undervalued. By introducing a recognition programme, you can help ensure your team feel seen and appreciated, minimising the risk of them leaving. Plus, it’ll also help drive job satisfaction as it encourages individuals to take pride in their work.
INCREASES LOYALTY AND JOB SATISFACTION
It feels great to receive a heartfelt ‘thanks’, right? Well, you can give your people the opportunity to enjoy that experience by providing a platform where they can deliver appreciative messages to one another and share experiences (big or small!) as a team. By bringing your employees together you’ll ensure they feel part of something special and truly valued, therefore, improving their overall wellbeing. Essentially, you’ve got the power to help your people thrive both at home and at work!
IMPROVES WELLBEING
Peer-to-peer recognition helps cultivate a healthy workplace atmosphere where individuals feel appreciated for their contributions. It also encourages people to connect with their colleagues, breaking down barriers across departments which will ultimately build a supportive environment where everyone can thrive. This is particularly important in the modern workplace as nearly 70% of employees and 81% of HR professionals believe in the importance of emotional connections at work. By introducing a recognition programme, you can meet the emotional needs of your employees and therefore, also help them form a positive relationship with your business. And as we know, this will help you boost engagement and loyalty among your employees which will again help you build a positive work environment!
BUILDS A POSITIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Recognition has the power to unlock people’s full potential as they feel valued for their efforts. This will encourage them to go the extra mile and take pride in their work, benefiting both your business and your people. As your employees strive for better, they’ll experience more job satisfaction and career development which will drive organisational performance. According to Great Place to Work, when compared to those who do not consistently feel recognised at work, people who do feel recognised at work are 2.2 times more likely to drive innovation and bring new ideas forward. Simply put, peer recognition can help your people and your company truly succeed.
ENHANCES EMPLOYEE AND ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE
HOW TO SET UP A SUCCESSFUL PEER-TO-PEER RECOGNITION PROGRAMME
Creating and implementing a successful peer recognition scheme isn’t easy. It requires careful planning and consideration to ensure that everything runs smoothly and has the desired results. But despite being on the tricky side to set up, it’s absolutely worth having a recognition programme within your business.
Research shows that while 32% of employees say peer-to-peer acknowledgements such as commendations or thank-you notes are in place at their organisation, the majority of respondents (83%) believe more emphasis needs to be placed on what other team members think. It’s clear that employees value appreciation from their peers, but the right tools need to be in place and businesses should encourage engagement to see the benefits. So where do you begin?
Here are our 5 steps to setting up a successful peer-to-peer recognition programme:
- Research your current recognition culture: Get to know your people to find out how they like to be recognised and what you can do to encourage appreciation within your team. Getting everyone on board can be tough, but this step will help you engage your people!
- Define your goals: Set achievable, measurable targets that will tell you how successful your programme is and whether it’s having a positive impact on your people.
- Get everyone on board: Share info about how to use your recognition tools and appoint culture champions who will lead by example to inspire appreciation within your team.
- Select the right peer-to-peer recognition programme: Tailor your scheme to suit the needs of your business and people. You can find out more about this in the section below!
- Encourage participation: Drive engagement by consistently sharing comms with your team and encouraging them to say thanks to their peers.
HOW BOOSTWORKS’ PEER-TO-PEER TEAM APPRECIATION PROGRAMME CAN HELP
It’s so important to show your employees that you value their work and recognise their achievements – and not only because it benefits your business, but because it’s your responsibility as an employer to boost your people and help them thrive!
That’s why having a peer-to-peer recognition programme is so critical, it encourages everyone within your business to say thanks and lift others up, which will positively impact your team and drive organisational success long-term. That said, your programme should be tailored to suit the needs of your people and your business to ensure that it’s effective. Whether it’s giving managers the ability to upgrade thank yous and give reward points to people or showcasing your company values, there are plenty of ways to make your programme feel more authentic to your business.
It can be tricky to know how to do this, however, which is where we can help! We’ve spent over 20 years collaborating with a diverse range of organisations and using our people expertise to create peer-to-peer schemes that truly make a difference. We can help you tailor your Boostworks recognition platform to deliver meaningful boosts and unlock all the benefits we discussed earlier. From an online social wall to thank you messages, we’ve got the solutions that will bring your people together and cultivate a culture where they can thrive personally and professionally. Want to find out more? Book a demo today and let’s recognise, repeat!
