Connected Culture for Engaging Recognition

You’ve discovered the power and potential of an engaged workforce, but how do you create that in your office today? Next week on Real Recognition Radio, my colleagues, Roy and Max will be interviewing Michael Lee Stallard, the author of the bestselling book Fired Up or Burned Out: How to Reignite Your Team’s Passion Creativity and Productivity. Michael will be sharing his strategies on how to get a motivated workforce through “Connection Cultures.” “Connection Cultures” increase each employee’s sense of connection to their work, their colleagues and their overall organization.

Tune in on April 6th at 1 PM ET to equip yourself with the tools you need to be able to transform your organization into an impassioned, innovative and thriving workplace!

Getting Recognition Right!

Both my colleague Roy Saunderson from the Recognition Management Institute and Elvie Gee Human Resources Director at Johnson & Johnson Medical Products (JJMP) will be speaking THIS WEDNESDAY, March 31st, at the Strategic Capability Network conference in Toronto.

Roy will describe how a well planned recognition program can accomplish all your corporate goals, and Ellie will share JJMP's evolution in creating an effective recognition strategy, the education and communication supports they have created, and the impact these initiatives have had on their recognition practices and programs.

But act quickly, you only have until tomorrow to register!

Art from the Hart

Like a gardener takes care of her garden, managers must take care of their employees. If you want engaged employees that take pride in their work and their company, the relationship between employee and manager must be consistently tended to. According to Gallup Research, “Despite efforts to keep the personal and professional realms separate, it's becoming increasingly apparent that workplace relationships are personal and that negative relationship dynamics have far-reaching and long-term consequences for organizations.” Click here to read more.

Leadership: The Heart of Sustainable Recognition

On the next Real Recognition Radio show (hosted by my colleagues Roy Saunderson and Max Brown), the guys will be interviewing Jim Kouzes, who's been hailed by the Wall Street Journal as one of the 12 best executive educators in the United States!

His book, “The Leadership Challenge,” has sold nearly 2 MILLION copies and he continues to publish and share leadership best practices around the world.

On Real Recognition Radio, Jim will share his thoughts on the leadership challenges of today to create a better workplace. How do you bring out the best in someone? How do you get employees to fulfill their potential?

Tune in on Tuesday, March 30th at 1 PM ET as Jim reveals REAL ways the right kind of leadership, based on thoughtfulness and consideration, can make a world of difference. It'll be a great show!

Recognition from the Hart: Remote Rewards for Telecommuters

Employers Web have just published my new article, "Remote Rewards for Telecommuters."

More and more employees find themselves working from home, and this has introduced new challenges for managers to keep employees feeling engaged and part of the team.

Click here to get some easy practical recognition tips you can use with your employees today!

Thank You Thoughts

"Admiration, n. Our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves." - Ambrose Bierce

Giving Recognition Life Through Stories

Next Tuesday's Real Recognition Radio show (hosted by RMI's Roy Saunderson and S. Max Brown) will deal with the power of storytelling and its effects in the workplace. Roy and Max will be interviewing Annie Hart, speaker and trainer on individual development in the fields of business, education, health care and non-profit.

During the show, she will show how stories are one of the most powerful and effective forms of communication today. According to Annie, companies that want to engage and motivate their employees and be on the leading edge of change need to tell more stories: the impact of a story is immediate and visceral.

Tune in next Tuesday, March 23rd, at 1 PM ET, and join our hosts in an engaging and lively discussion about how the power of stories can make an impact in every area of your life.

Kudos to the Tax Department!

Like most people I’m not a big fan of the tax department, however, kudos should go to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that recently revised its rules on gifts and awards.

A number of years ago the CRA changed its taxation policies on the taxation of gifts and awards. On the whole, our industry viewed these changes very positively, however there were some areas that we felt could be improved upon.

The most contentious was to limit the number of gifts and or awards to two items having a total value of no more than $500. The CRA has amended this policy and as of January 1st, 2010, there no longer are limits to the number of tax-free non-cash gifts and awards you may give to an employee in a given year.

Another issue CRA clarified and simplified was to create a single $500 exemption that employers can now apply against the total value of all the qualifying non-cash gifts and awards you give to an employee. So, if you give an employee gifts and awards with a total value of $650, there is a taxable benefit of $150 ($650-$500).

Follow the link for CRA’s revised policy.

Many companies and groups asked CRA to make these changes and it is good to know that the department does listen!

Now if CRA would only reduce the service award threshold down from every five years to something that reflects the fact that people change jobs every three years, I’d be really happy! And while they’re at it, perhaps they could consider allowing points based performance awards up to $500 to qualify for exemption as well!

But I guess these are battles for another day!

Art from the Hart - The Power of Relationships!

This is a painting I drew up of my wife and daughter, simply, it’s about their wonderful relationship. And this reminds me that I can never overstate the power of relationships, not only in your personal life, but also at work.
Here’s a nice little article from the Gallup Management Journal summing it up.
If you build a genuine relationships with colleagues and employees, you will build a strong, powerful and positive work environment. As they say in this article, “Money can't buy love -- or loyalty”

Engage Your Employees!

I’ve had a few posts announcing some of the great shows my colleagues S. Max Brown and Roy Saunderson put together for the Real Recognition Radio program, if you happen to have missed one of their shows, you can still catch them in the archives section of the Real Recognition Radio program homepage or on iTunes.

For the next Real Recognition Radio episode, Roy and Max will be interviewing feedback expert Sonia Di Maulo and business coach Tanveer Naseer, who teach companies how to improve people, performance, and business growth and development. They will share advice on how to create a better workplace, how to get the most out of your employees while helping to create a positive and productive workplace through the power of communication and feedback.

Stay tuned next Tuesday. March 16th, at 1 PM ET.

John Hope Bryant on Real Recognition Radio

Don't forget to tune in today, Tuesday, March 9th, at 1 PM ET to listen to RMI's Roy Saunderson and S. Max Brown, interview John Hope Bryant once described by Former U.S. President Bill Clinton as, “A 41 year-old whirlwind of ideas and action. Lean, intense, focused, and completely positive in his belief in the potential of poor people to prosper, with ‘a hand up and not a hand out.’”

John Hope Bryant is a philanthropic entrepreneur and businessman, in the business of empowerment. This includes Mr. Bryant’s non-profit work throughout the United States, through Operation HOPE, his global non-profit work led by HOPE Global Initiatives, his vast work in public policy, and his increasing portfolio in “thought leadership.”

Click here to tune in at 1 PM ET, or listen to the archives.

New VPHR Newsletter

My good friend and fellow RPI Board member Christophe Laval has just launched a new quarterly newsletter on recognition (available in French only).

The newsletter is published by Christophe’s company VPHR (Vision, Performance, Humain, Reconnaissance) and is a must read for those interested in the latest recognition happenings in France and Europe.

You can subscribe to the newsletter by e-mailing contact@vphr.fr.

Here is a copy of the first VPHR issue.

Thank You Thoughts

"In the arena of human life the honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action." - Aristotle

Love Leadership – The power of relationships in the workplace

The next Real Recognition Radio episode, hosted by my colleagues Roy Saunderson and S. Max Brown, is a real treat. They had the honor of interviewing the amazing John Hope Bryant. He is a philanthropic entrepreneur and businessman, in the business of empowerment. This includes Mr. Bryant’s non-profit work throughout the US, through Operation HOPE, his vast work in public policy, and his increasing portfolio in “thought leadership.”

John Hope Bryant has received more than 400 awards and citations for his work to empower low-wealth communities including the Use Your Life Award by Oprah Winfrey, and was named a “Community Hero” by People Magazine on the 10th anniversary of the worst urban civil unrest in U.S. history. In December, 1994, Mr. Bryant was selected by TIME Magazine for their “America’s 50 Most Promising Leaders of the Future” cover story.

On Real Recognition Radio, on Tuesday, March 9th, at 1 PM ET, John will be sharing some inspirational messages on the power of relationships and leadership in your day to day life, as well as in the workplace.

Click here for more info!

A little Monday recognition fodder

I invite all of you to listen to a recent episode of Annie Hart’s radio program, Radio 42, The Meaning of Life the Universe and Everything, where she interviews our very own S. Max Brown, RMI’s VP of Organizational Learning. During this segment, he tells us his story, as well as his spin on the importance of recognition and the incredible power of relationships.

Click here to listen in and learn more about Max's take on how recognition can be used to motivate and inspire.