We often find ourselves puzzled between these two words: recognition and appreciation. Sometimes, we think both of them are the same thing. But, in reality, both are poles apart. Both are equally important for employees in an organization, but both are quite dissimilar from each other. Hence, if you (as a leader) want that your team grows and organization wants that it create an employee-friendly culture by adding up loyalty and high performance, then it’s the high time for both to understand the difference between recognition and appreciation.
Let’s start one by one.
Recognition is the act of acknowledging employees’ or team’s performance, efforts, and accomplishment which enables organizations to achieve their goals and values. It provides positive feedback to employees based on their performance. Also, it motivates employees to maintain their good performance.
Recognition happens in two different ways. Sometimes formally — through an award, bonus, promotion or a hike and sometimes, informally — includes a verbal thank you, or an acknowledging note. Irrespective of any of the ways, if organizations or leaders don’t recognize their teams or employees on time or in a genuine way, recognition will not hold any meaning.
On the other hand, appreciation is another factor contributing to the organizations’ culture. Appreciation is about acknowledging employees’ inbuilt values — as a colleague and as a human being. You can show appreciation for people around you through three different ways:
Though appreciation is important every time, recognition is imperative and appropriate when earned and deserved. Hence, a great leader or a successful organization should always focus on cultivating both: recognition and appreciation.
