Employee Recognition: The Killer Quick-Win to Rocket-Fuel Competitive Advantage

“Clients do not come first, employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients” – Richard Branson.

Think praising employees (or even praising your partner or children) is the stuff of snowflakes or an indulged Gen Z insecurity?

Think again.

According to a Gallup survey:

💪 Creating a culture of recognition can save a 10,000 employee company up to $16.1 million in turnover costs annually

Yet:

⚡️ 81% of leaders say recognition is not a major strategic priority for their organization

⚡️ 73% of senior leaders say their organization does not offer managers or leaders of best practise training for employee recognition

⚡️ Nearly 2 in 3 leaders say their organization does not have budget allocated to recognition

In other words, words of recognition – ‘thank yous’ / ‘you did a great job’ / ‘you really add value here’ – aren’t just nice-to-haves, they’re corporate need-to-haves, driving happiness, productivity and the bottom line – exponentially.

I hear smart, successful career coaching clients, often on 6-figure salaries, wanting to shift organisations again and again because of a lack of praise and the hit this takes on their self-esteem and sense of motivation and belonging at work.

This isn’t surprising when you consider that recognition is a core human need rooted in the desire to feel significant, valued, and seen.

Neuroscience endorses this – recognition acts as a primary motivator and psychological driver, fulfilling esteem needs by providing validation, boosting dopamine levels, and reinforcing positive behaviours.

Without it, individuals often experience reduced motivation, increased frustration, and potential burnout.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs also rams home the reality that recognition, fitting within the “esteem” band of the hierarchy (reputation, respect) and “belonging” (social connection), must be met before self-actualization, the pinnacle of happiness and success, can be achieved.

Imagine a corporate culture where everyone was operating in that peak purple zone? 😊😊😊 = 💰💰💰

Still sceptical?

🏆 Engagement and Retention: Employees who feel recognized are five times more likely to feel connected to their company culture and four times more likely to be engaged.

🏆 Performance Booster: Recognition acts as an intrinsic motivator. Research shows that 78% of employees work harder when their efforts are rewarded, and 92% are more likely to repeat a specific action after receiving recognition.

🏆 Reducing Burnout: Consistent recognition significantly reduces burnout and turnover rates. A study cited in the results indicates that high-quality recognition reduces the likelihood of turnover by 45%.

It’s not rocket science..

“When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute” – Simon Sinek 🧍‍♂️➡️ 🎯

#workplace #wellbeing #success #profit #people #learninganddevelopment #talent #recruitment #managers #leaders #employeeexperience #mentalhealth #wellbeing #HR

From Lawyer to Life Coach: My Story & Why if I could do it, you can, too!

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‘The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle’ – Steve Jobs

The moment I realised I wanted to leave law, I was sitting in the car park at work on Sunday for the nth time, stifling tears of fatigue and frustration.

The moment I realised coaching could be the ideal fit work-wise was sitting a-top a double decker bus in London, reading an article on coaching, having that soulmate feeling you get when you know you may have hit the jackpot.

For the rest of my story, check out my short no-holds-barred video below explaining my move from lawyer to life and career coach and corporate trainer.

In it, I address:

💡 the dealbreakers that helped me realise law wasn’t for me;
💡 what helped me get clarity on career change;
💡 why working with coaching clients met my needs more than supporting people through divorce;
💡 why ‘net income’ is so important and why ‘income’ is a deceptive notion;
💡 why owning my own business was attractive instead of scary; and
💡 why knowing my superpowers was a real guiding light in my career change

If you’re unhappy or even just discontent in your career, know that if I can do it, you can, too.

You don’t have to see the whole staircase to make change, you just need to trust your instinct and take the first step.

Don’t know if coaching or career change may even be the right thing for you?

Take comfort from Bob Nardelli’s words, former CEO of Home Depot which has a $353 billion market capitalisation today: “I absolutely believe that people, unless coached, never reach their maximum potential”.

Unsure if you can change paths and keep the salary you want?

Most of my new clients feel the same but quickly shift state from fear and doubt to excitement and hope, like Vanessa, another lawyer, below:

“I was referred to Mel at a point when my I felt trapped in a frustrating role and working environment. Mel proved to be a lifeline and a joy to work with as she: got me to articulate what really matters to me in my working life; has turned my frustrations into inspirations; and always ended each session with a practical ‘to do’ list. Mel’s sessions have not only allowed me to focus my thought processes on what I want and need from my career but also helped me work out a practical approach for pushing my current career in the direction I want it to go. Each session left me feeling energised and positive. I could not recommend her enough”.

Remember, our time on Earth is short.

As Steve Jobs said: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life”.

To watch my story click here.

And if you’d like to hear more, get in touch for a free 30 minute life or career coaching discovery call and let’s see if we could be a good fit – www.melanie-pritchard.com

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Melanie