The Words We Use

Words are powerful. Indeed, I think we can learn a lot about an individual, a department, and an organization by simply listening to the words people use. What words are your employees using when they talk about recognition?

Awkward, uncomfortable, and embarrassing are just a few words that some people in our client organizations have used to describe being on the receiving end of recognition. As a result, many companies give up on the presentation and simply give employees the award without celebrating the purpose behind it. Of course, without the purpose, the award loses meaning, and the whole experience is often . . . well, awkward, uncomfortable, and embarrassing.

While meeting with a client recently, the HR Senior Vice-President said to me: “We don’t need the trinkets and trash . . . we simply want to know how to communicate better.” I cringed to think that she perceived their service award program in such a way. My response to her was this: “When the recognition experience is meaningful, the awards will no longer be perceived as trinkets and trash, but as powerful symbols of the employee’s contribution to the organization. And when the employee is honored, rather than humiliated, the recognition is appreciated.”

Our goal is to help organizations utilize all of their recognition awards effectively. Companies don’t want awards unless they know that those awards help them achieve their goals. If we want to be part of their solution, we have to help them make the recognition experience and awards meaningful.