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Remember to Recognize Excellence

Elsewhere in this issue of Inside Trucking Online, we report on the results of a driver survey Ramp Publishing – publishers of this newsletter as well as Over the Road and Pro Trucker – conducted in conjunction with the consulting firm Trincon Group. Among the many findings of the survey was this nugget: “… a high percentage of drivers say they are not valued since no one tells them what is going on or recognizes their accomplishments.” The only time they tend to hear from management is when things go wrong.

Turns out truck drivers aren’t the only ones who feel that way.

A 2008 Gallup poll found that 65 percent of U.S. workers felt they hadn’t received recognition in the past year. The number one reason why people leave organizations is because they don’t feel appreciated. There are countless ways that leaders can recognize excellent performance:

1. Make recognition a policy, not a perk. Develop a system of rewards that includes everyone. Educate the entire staff about the program and promote it frequently, and post it for all to see.
2. Little things mean a lot. Looking an employee in the eye, saying thanks and shaking his hand is one of the most effective ways to recognize a job well done.
3. Do it up right. When the occasion calls for more than a handshake, do it with gusto. That might mean inviting family members to a celebration, having an awards dinner or holding a recognition ceremony during work hours.
4. Remember the “little guy.” When boarding Marine One for the first time, President Obama surprised a Marine near the door when he saluted him and then shook his hand. By acknowledging underappreciated workers, the message is clear: everyone is important and everyone’s contribution counts.

Source: Roemer Report (used with permission), Gallup

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