Training Tools, Tips & Resources

Training resources blog by Corexcel. Your connection to everything related to training.

Increase Employee Engagement with These Employee Recognition Ideas 

Sure, salary, benefits packages and career opportunities are a great way to help reward your employees, but it’s also important to remember to recognize them for smaller, individual jobs well done, too. An easy, but effective way, to boost retention can be as simple as saying “Thank you!”

Everyone loves to be thanked for going above and beyond their role. I’m sure you value your employees and appreciate them for the work they do, but do you think they know? THAT is the bigger question.

inexpensive employee recognition ideas

Establishing some type of employee recognition program can be as simple as printing out this article and using the ideas to thank employees when the times arise. Recognizing your employees may seem like a small act, but the benefits can be huge to your business.

Employee recognition can help you:

  • Retain the best employees
  • Inspire and motivate employees
  • Improve overall work culture
  • Build better relationships with your employees
  • Increase productivity
  • Improve customer satisfaction

Here are 10 inexpensive employee recognition ideas:

1. A simple thank you. This can be in the form of a thank you card, email or a quick chat in the hallway. A “thank you” goes a long way, especially when it is sincere.

2. “Pizza in the conference room!” The way into your employees’ hearts may be through their stomachs. This works great if your group worked together to reach a goal. If you have sweet-tooth’s on your team, try donuts and coffee instead.

3. Companywide thank you. Another great way to thank someone for their hard work is by sending a companywide email showcasing their hard work. Or, if you already have a monthly or quarterly newsletter in place, add a recurring section to highlight employees who went above and beyond that month.

4. One-on-one lunch. Everyone loves the opportunity to have lunch with the boss, and this is a win-win situation for everyone. The employee will feel honored having lunch with you, while you can learn more about your employee and even pick their brain for new ideas or feedback.

5. Two words: Scratch offs!  Since the likelihood of them winning the lottery and leaving the company is pretty low, the scratch off is a fun, inexpensive treat.

6. Gift card to their favorite store. This is a very personalized thank you, especially if it’s a store they mentioned in a recent conversation. This type of recognition shows you were listening to them and that you took a few extra steps to say “thank you.”

7. Get your boss to say “Thank you.” Although employees would love to receive praise from you, you may think to get your superior involved by asking him/her to stop by your employee’s desk and say “thank you” as well. Ask your boss to explain the bigger picture, and why the employee’s actions were so beneficial to him/her personally.

8. Do their job for a day. Offer to do one of your employee’s tasks for a day. This is a really unique way to thank and bond with your employees. Don’t be afraid to ask them for help!

9. Personal time. Give your employee a free pass for as little or as much time off as you’d like. Even just an hour can help your employee miss traffic or get to a concert or event on time.

10. Reserved parking spots. If parking isn’t ideal at your office, try creating a reserved parking spot for the “employee of the month.” Employees will appreciate not having to search for a parking spot for a few weeks! 

And remember, with any of these methods, follow these 4 tips: TTEB:

T: Be timely. Don’t wait a week to thank them for something they did. Make sure your thank you is timely.

T: Tell them why. Make sure you’re clear as to why you’re thanking them.

E: Explain the big picture. Tell them exactly why their small (or big) act is such a big deal.

B: Be authentic. If you’re not the type that sends pink, scented thank you cards, don’t start now. Stay true to your style.

We’d love to hear from you. How are you recognizing your employees’ work well done?

Comment below!

The Year End Review:
Creating Training and Development Programs

The only way we can continue to grow is to occasionally look back and reflect on previous successes and lessons learned. The new year is a perfect time to do that. Take a few minutes to think about 2013. What did your group do well? Not so well? What added skills and abilities would help your team achieve their goals?

Year End Review Training and DevelopmentNow is the time to think about what you can do to make 2014 the best year yet. Creating a training and development plan for your staff members is an important piece to the organizational effectiveness puzzle.

Remember: Investing in current employees is much less expensive than hiring and training new ones!

First:

  • Brainstorm. What do you think your employees need to be successful?
  • Communicate them with your team.
  • Get their buy-in. (This is important. Your employees are much more likely to achieve their goals if they are realistic and/or as important to them as they are to you.)

Then, together:

  • Create an action plan. How can we achieve the goals? Online courses? Instructor-led courses? Mentoring? What will work for the learner?
  • Assign responsibilities.
  • Create a timeline.
  • Allocate the budget.

Ensure you’re doing everything in your ability to give you and your team the tools they need to succeed by creating personalized training and development plans for your team. 

And that’s where Corexcel comes in! We pride ourselves on finding the solutions for your team in the avenues and price points that work for you and your employees.

Whether it’s DiSC Profiles and online assessments, train the trainer, customized training for your group or accredited, online business skills or clinical courses; we’re here to help companies of all sizes and industries reach their goals.

Learn more about Corexcel:
Contact Form
1-888-658-6641 (M-F, 9am – 5:30pm EST)

  • Our most popular profile (available online or in paper booklet) is often used in hiring or by organizations on a budget looking for a snapshot of their employees’ behavioral tendencies.

Clinical Courses

From Good to Great:
Quick and Easy Management Tips

10 Things Extraordinary Bosses Give Their Employees 

It’s 2014! Everyone is bright-eyed, feeling refreshed and ready to take on the new year.

“What do I want to accomplish this year? How will I do it?”

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to be a better manager, I highly suggest you continue reading!

We all have different management styles. While some managers may focus on results, others may think creativity is the most valuable aspect of a team. No matter what your management style is, reading this blog post could take you from being a good manager to an extraordinary one.

I found a valuable post from Inc. that listed the 10 things all extraordinary bosses give their employees. Here’s a brief overview of what was covered:

1. Autonomy and independence. management
Do your employees feel they have ownership of their projects? If so, they are more likely to feel motivated to do them well.

2. Clear expectations.
Consistent and clear expectations help your employees feel confident in the work they are doing.

3. Meaningful objectives.
Purposeful goals will make your employees more likely to reach them.

4. A true sense of purpose.
Employees who feel they are valued and making a difference will feel proud and motivated.

5. Opportunities to provide significant input.
Employees who feel their ideas are listened to and valued are more likely to continue contributing. Meanwhile, those who do not feel listened to are more likely to stop contributing to discussions.

6. A real sense of connection.
Employees want to work for people they like and respect.

7. Reliable consistency.
Employees should feel that they are treated fairly and consistently with others.

8. Private criticism.
Negative feedback is bound to happen, but it should be discussed with employees in private.

9. Public praise.
Meanwhile, employees should be praised for their work, publicly.

10. A chance for a meaningful future.
Extraordinary bosses make sure they are developing their employees for the future, even if it is not with their company.

It may sound simple, but really dissect your management style and work environment. Do your employees get all of these things from you?

Check out Inc’s blog here: 10 Things Extraordinary Bosses Give their Employees – Management Tips for the full blog post.

Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment! How do you measure up with the list above? What would you add to this list?