Have you ever felt you’ve gone the extra mile on something but nobody else seemed to notice? It’s a lousy, empty and de-motivating feeling, for sure. Maybe it’s time for a refresher on the importance of acknowledging people’s over-and-above efforts and achievements. And it doesn’t always have to be something grandiose.
I recently came across the results of a 2025 Gallup Poll in which respondents were queried about the importance of praise and recognition at home, in the workplace, and when they’re out and about interacting with others.
It found people who receive regular, sincere, high-quality praise and recognition are significantly more engaged, motivated, and loyal to their organizations, their relationships, and their personal goals. In the workplace, employees who are well-recognized are 45% less likely to leave their jobs, and when recognition is added to the mix, it bumps that retention number up to 65%. Clearly, praise and recognition deepen a person’s commitment to an organization and its culture, individual life goals, and interpersonal relationships.
Honestly, I wouldn’t call this a news flash but I do think the findings serve as a great reminder and reinforcement of what most of us probably already knew but, maybe, don’t put into action on a regular basis. But I wonder … do we [including me] seize opportunities to praise and recognize someone for over-and-above efforts and for reaching key milestones along their personal journeys? I’m not talking about going overboard with excessive quantities of praise because that, like anything, very quickly gets stale and ineffective. I’m talking about quality praise and recognition, the type that flows from one heart and touches another.
Consistently over the decades, research has come to the following conclusions about the positive effects of praise and recognition:
- Boosts confidence and extends motivation — Receiving earned praise confirms the value of one’s actions and encourages further effort and growth.
- Improves attitude and mental health — Focusing on strengths and recognizing accomplishments helps reduce stress, anxiety, and negativity by shifting attention to positive pursuits and away from problems which often garner more focus and attention than they rightfully deserve.
- Enhances and strengthens social bonds — Offering praise builds trust, respect, and a sense of belonging in relationships, whether personal, professional, or social. Recognition before others turbo-charges this effect.
- Encourages resilience — Acknowledging and recognizing progress during challenges cultivates a positive mindset and a greater commitment to persevering in spite of headwinds and difficulties.
When recognition is built into workplace culture, engagement levels rise by nearly 32%, driving higher morale, productivity, and collaboration among teams. In fact, companies with robust recognition programs see up to 40% lower turnover, illustrating how appreciation not only rewards effort but also reinforces positive behaviors that align with organizational values.
We have one client who invites all 750 of its employees to a local convention center for a program that honors their top 10-15 performers. This company-wide recognition fosters respect, strengthens the organization’s cultural bonds, and catalyzes motivation. “What if I was one of those people called onstage next year …?”
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
Small ways to reward performance include verbal praise in meetings, personalized thank-you notes, or social media shoutouts acknowledging good work. Recently, one of our dynami team members did an exceptional job on something and she was rewarded with a dozen tasty cupcakes which had the desired effect of making her feel special. And isn’t that the point?
Other low-cost gestures might be offering a reserved parking spot for the month, a special lunch outing, or a gift card. By contrast, grand ways to reward performance involve higher investment in the individual, whether it’s a salary bump, an unscheduled bonus, elite professional training, additional Paid Time Off, or a mini-sabbatical. And of course, there’s always the opportunity to reward them with a President’s Club slot and send them, along with other high-achieving peers, to a sun-and-sand location, a luxury dude ranch, or travel to someplace offshore and exotic.
Words Matter …
Not to be a chest-thumper but I’d like to brag a bit about the dynami team. Recently, I received the below note from the CEO of a client, commending our onsite Production Team after a well-executed program. It read:
Hi there,
I just want to take a moment to say thank you for the truly outstanding job you did bringing this year’s conference to life. From the earliest planning stages to the very last session, every detail reflected your hard work, creativity, and commitment to excellence. You handled every moving piece — and there were many! — with grace, teamwork, and heart. The result was an event that not only ran seamlessly but left our entire community inspired, connected, and proud to be part of something so special. I keep getting “best conference ever”.
Thank you again for your talent, your teamwork, and for always going above and beyond! If you can please share this with the rest of your team that was there, I would greatly appreciate it! I know we will be in touch soon.
One-hundred and thirty-four words. But to me, and to the entire dynami team, it felt like a million bucks!
Never overlook the opportunity to share praise and/or recognize another when the situation merits. You never know how much a few well-chosen, heartfelt words of praise, or a moment of recognition in front of peers, will mean to another person today, tomorrow, even many, many years from now when they reflect on their careers. And ultimately, you, will likely be rewarded with a happier, more loyal, and even higher-achieving team member.
Cheers,
Kenneth Jones
