By creating a social event around recognition, companies can align their company values and culture with three strong psychological needs.
Creative Awards and Recognition Increase Joy
Harvard Business School research shows that companies with strong recognition programs enjoy increased productivity, lower job turnover, and greater returns on investment than other companies in the same industries.
In fact, on top of a competitive and fair salary, clever and creative recognition award events tap into all three powerful psychological needs that every human craves, listed below.
People long for autonomy, with freedom to choose how to do their work.
They want to appear competent, and well-equipped with the skills needed to succeed at their role.
They want to feel a sense of belonging by socially connecting with colleagues in meaningful ways.
A recognition awards ceremony can celebrate the uniqueness of each of your employees, while highlighting the competence and achievements of the entire team. As long as it fits your company’s culture and doesn’t tread on offending anyone, we even encourage recognition events that include a sense of levity.
Particularly after as challenging of a year as 2020, fun recognition activities can boost morale and build team connection and unity. In addition, recognition events, complete with custom awards that adhere to your brand values, help to cultivate that sense of belonging people crave and can inspire more peer-to-peer recognition in the future.
Unique Recognition Awards Ideas For Your Team
Here are 13 fun ideas of unique employee award ideas for your next recognition event - whether it’s held virtually or in person. These awards can be voted on by the entire team, with each person being recognized. With our ability to personalize any of our awards, you can select one design and personalize the engraving on each award to list the following categories. These are just ideas to get you started, the best categories will come from your own unique company culture.
The Foodie: This award goes to the person in your workforce who always know the best spot for lunch and has the best dinner recipes.
Best Usage of Gifs: Is a member of your team a slack superstar when it comes to responding with exactly the right Gif at all times? Recognize someone whose use of Giphy is off the charts.
The Fire Extinguisher: Is there an employee that particularly helps others to put out fires? This award will help recognize someone who has gone above and beyond in a crisis.
Best Attendance: Who is consistently at the office (or signed into Google Teams) early and always on time at meetings? Use this award to boost incentive for great attendance.
The Comedian: Is there someone who can make others laugh at a tense moment? Recognize the employee who has helped use humor to get through tough times.
Positivity King/Queen: If someone is consistently upbeat and always ready to help out, this award is for them. This award is sure to bring a smile to their face.
Duct Tape Award: This award goes to the team member who is able to fix anything, anytime. This special award recognizes their necessary and unique contributions.'
Top Office DJ: Is there someone in the office who takes care of the workday music? You can use this award to recognize their creative efforts.
The Neatest Nook: We all appreciate a clean desk and office environment. Recognize your employee who is your company’s own personal Marie Kondo.
Elephant Memory Award: This award recognizes the member of your team who can always recall the necessary information at just the right moment.
Astute Observer Award: Does someone always notice your new haircut? Celebrate your team member who looks out for others with this recognition award.
Calmer of Storms Award: This award goes to the person who is known for their steady hand and levelheadedness. We can all appreciate a team member like this, in the best and worst moments.
Dressed to Kill Award: This special award goes out to the person who puts their all into their daily workwear.
We’d love to help you with your creative process on designing your awards. Unlike most award companies, our capabilities span a broad array of different dimensions for your custom award design project, including design styles, materials, production methodologies, and form factors, which range from small pins and medallions all the way up to large-scale monumental sculptures. Learn more about the Bennett Awards difference and get started on your recognition project today.