Employee appreciation and recognition brings a wide range of benefits, including improved retention, motivation, job satisfaction, and employee well-being. When employees feel truly valued, trust and connection grow, leading to increased engagement and productivity. This creates a positive and supportive workplace culture where everyone thrives.

Recognition

Recognition should be given when an individual’s performance reaches a level that deserves acknowledgment.

FORMAL RECOGNITION PREFERENCE
Formal recognitions are preplanned and have a structure to them. These can include employee of the month honors, annual or quarterly awards, and work anniversaries.

Public Praise • Private Praise • Verbal • Written • Tangible • Intangible • None
Delivery from: Direct Manager • Senior Management • Peer • Direct Report • Customer/Client

INFORMAL RECOGNITION PREFERENCE
Informal recognition involves spontaneous moments of acknowledgment. These can be during smaller meetings, leadership/executive meetings, or through a written note or email.

Public Praise • Private Praise • Verbal • Written • Tangible • Intangible • None
Delivery from: Direct Manager • Senior Management • Peer • Direct Report • Customer/Client

Appreciation

Appreciation should be consistent and regularly practiced, coming from anyone within the organization or those connected to it, including teammates, direct reports, and leadership.

APPRECIATION PREFERENCE
Acts of Service
An action that will benefit the employee
e.g. handling their shift/part of shift, running work errands

Words of Affirmation
Specific verbal expressions
e.g. be specific in highlighting their personal skills and strengths

Tangible Gifts
Material objects
e.g. work swag items, plaque, gift cards, items from local business

Quality Time
Sincere direct interaction with leadership
e.g. lunch with leader(s), one on one time

Proof of Impact
Emphasize the impact an employee’s work has had in the community, organizations mission, or within their role at the organization.
e.g. data or metrics, customer/client testimonials

For more information about this material, email kmcclain@praeliscere.com or visit https://praeliscere.com/. Copyright Kathryn McClain.

Gain valuable insight into how your team members prefer to be acknowledged. Designed to support employee engagement, motivation, and workplace culture, this tool helps you identify each individual’s appreciation and recognition preferences.

Collecting this input allows colleagues, managers, HR professionals, and team leads to deliver meaningful recognition and appreciation that truly resonates, boosting morale, increasing retention, and fostering a more connected, high-performing team.