“To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course.
Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you.
Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.”
Albert Schweitzer
“One manager in our community relations department is always looking for special opportunities to express appreciation,” reports Lyn Hilbert, vice president of human resources for BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina.
“The staff here is heavily involved in many charitable activities and donates their personal time tirelessly. Recently, to thank them this manager ordered a number of Lance Armstrong “Live Strong” bracelets. Each staff member received one along with a personal note from the manager thanking them for their strength and letting them know that they have inspired the manager many times over to live strong.”
Here’s some of the other fun & creative ways they recognize groups at BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina:
One department had three teams working on different types of work, each with specified deadlines. To motivate the employees, they allowed a team to wear jeans for a week if they meet the previous week’s goals. The teams really seem to push to ensure that they meet their goals so that they are not the team wearing business casual when another team is wearing jeans.
Another team comprised of the Project Managers and Business Analysts (PMBA) recognize accomplishments each month by awarding a stuffed “Pumbaa” (from Disney’s Lion King) to the team member with the most significant accomplishments.
Another team manager reports, “For one project, I awarded each team member various items to represent their contribution to the project: a giant bottle of glue for the team member who held us together with sales, a jar of jam for the team member who ‘hand jammed’ (aka manually entered) enrollment data, a set of pom-poms for our always positive cheerleader, etc.”
One special projects group is involved in a major, multi-year, enterprise-wide effort that crosses multiple divisions within the company.
Participants are eligible for the “Most Valuable Ant” recognition award. The award itself is a 6-inch-high custom-painted ant figurine. Attached is a personalized certificate that each recipient receives along with the figurine itself.
In the I.S department any member can nominate any other member for a “Golden Graeme” award, named after the vice president of the department, whose first name is Graeme. The awards are given for going the extra mile in ensuring the success of the department, for putting in long hours to get the work done against a tight deadline, for improving processes to better ensure success and/or quality, or for improving a business relationship, taking on a stretch assignment and delivering on it, etc. The award is given out quarterly at an all-hands meeting.
In another division, the senior vice president is named “Bob” and he presents pins standing for “Bend Over Backwards” at quarterly meetings of the department. Anyone can recommend a Bob award for any department member who “bends over backwards” to help achieve department goals. Photos are taken of the presentation and posted on bulletin boards within the department.
The organization hosted a Parking Lot Lunch with a tent and barbeque for all staff to thank them for their hard work on a major corporate-wide initiative.
Now, after hearing these employee incentives, what can you muster up on your team to get employees and team members motivated, laughing, and engaged?
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Jennifer Ledet, CSP, is a leadership consultant and professional speaker (with a hint of Cajun flavor) who equips leaders from the boardroom to the mailroom to improve employee engagement, teamwork, and communication. In her customized programs, leadership retreats, keynote presentations, and breakout sessions, she cuts through the BS and talks through the tough stuff to solve your people problems.
