Everybody loves a shoutout. When it comes to receiving praise at work, a kind word or public recognition goes a long way. Research from Zippia shows that 80% of employees would work harder if they felt appreciated, and 92% would likely repeat a specific action if they received recognition for it.

A staff shoutout is simply an informal way of saying thanks or giving recognition. You may want to thank specific employees for their contributions, recognize an important personal event like a wedding or birthday, or show appreciation to the whole team for a job well done.

Writer Nathan Ojaokomo says shoutouts breed positivity at work. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we outline his thoughts on five ways you can build an effective staff shoutout program.

1. Lay the proper foundation. This means thinking about things like why you’re creating the program and what you hope to accomplish with it. You should also consider how you’ll organize the program and how you’ll get employees and leaders involved in it. It’s important to lay the right foundation, Ojaokomo says, because it will affect how things work in the future.

2. Get your team involved. Make sure you ask your employees what kind of awards and recognition they would most appreciate. Ojaokomo says a shoutout program that doesn’t consider employees’ opinions will most likely fail.

3. Create a realistic plan. Execution is what matters when it comes to recognition and shoutout programs, Ojaokomo says. That’s why it’s crucial to avoid unrealistic standards. You want to be sure you can follow through on what you say you’ll do.

4. Get companywide buy-in. A successful staff shoutout program requires that everyone at your company should be aware of the program and take it seriously. Ojaokomo recommends demonstrating how the program promotes your company's core values and lead by example. Be sure you use every opportunity to give positive feedback to others.

5. Track the program. Note things like who is being recognized and how often you recognize staff members. Also, keep track of who’s involved in giving feedback and what kind of company channels are used.

Whether you give a shoutout in person, at company meetings, through your company’s social media channels or you use a different channel, you’ll be showing your team members how much you appreciate their contributions. As a result, they’ll feel more connected to your company and your entire organization will benefit from a more engaged workforce.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Nathan Ojaokomo is a freelance B2B SaaS writer who helps companies generate more leads and revenue.