Is it really so surprising that peer recognition is a discussion topic that never seems to fade away? After all, we humans have been seeking appreciation from our peers since the dawn of civilization. We don’t need to go that far back to prove this point.
Do you remember that time at the playground when you tried to swing across the monkey bars and how it resulted in you breaking your arm?
Think about why you were on those monkey bars. You weren’t there because they were fun.
You wanted to impress your friends. After Sandy Dickinson’s mom took you to the hospital and you came back to school with a cast around your arm, you finally got what you were looking for!
The moment all your friends signed that cast was your first brush with the concept known as peer recognition!
That story, while not at all personal, shows just how powerful the concept of being recognized by one’s peers truly is.
There is no reason why that incredible power shouldn’t be harnessed in the workplace! There are some questions surrounding this topic such as: “Why is peer to peer recognition important?” or “How can I recognize my peers?”
Stick with us as we answer all those questions and give you some pointers on just how you can implement peer recognition into your company culture.
Table of Contents
What Is Peer Recognition Exactly?
At its heart, peer recognition is a public display of gratitude or appreciation towards an employee. A key aspect of it that sets it apart is that peer recognition is completely excluded from any sort of hierarchy that exists in the workplace.
Removing hierarchy from the concept of recognition results in a very specific, yet extraordinary phenomenon.
The removal of office politics and the umbrella of performance management results in peer recognition being extremely well received, providing the employees with a massive morale boost.
This isn’t to say that being recognized by a manager isn’t genuine. It is. It can be rewarding in its own way. In fact, we have put together a separate list of ideas on how you can recognize remote employees.
Recognition coming directly from one’s peers, those people they are in the trenches with day in and day out, is just something else entirely.
Benefits Of Peer-To-Peer Recognition
Defining peer recognition itself was more of a formality than a necessity. Answering the question “Why is peer recognition important?” however, is a must before we move on to some fun peer recognition ideas and suggestions.
It Results In Driven Teams
Think back to the overly personal story in the introduction of this article. Why did that kid swing on those monkey bars?
He certainly wouldn’t have done it without the simple incentive of peer recognition. That is where the true power of this concept lies. One of the true benefits of peer to peer recognition is the fact that it drives people to go the extra mile.
The need to be noticed and recognized by our peers gives us the incentive to try harder than we normally would.
Whether someone is coming up with a fresh idea for their marketing brainstorming meeting, trying to meet their goals and okrs, or simply swinging on monkey bars even though their mom told them not to, the idea of being recognized by their peers helps them push on.
It Strengthens Bonds
Moving on from anticipation, to after effects, it is no secret that a healthy feedback and recognition culture strengthens the bonds within an organization.
As mutual appreciation, respect, and feedback is exchanged among employees many aspects of day-to-day life such as employee engagement and performance management are positively affected by it.
Best Peer Recognition Practices
We can’t spend three parts of an article singing the praises of a concept without giving our readers sound pointers on how to practice it.
1. Use An Employee Recognition Software
Before implementing or attempting to boost a practice within your company culture, you should first make sure that you have the right tools for the job!
The concept of recognition might sound simple enough but as employee numbers increase, the entire process gets more and more complicated.
That is why investing in a performance management software with a strong recognition module is the safest bet.There are many great options in the market but one thing to make sure is that peer to peer recognition software of your choice allows its users to customize recognitions to fit with their company culture.
We’ve already made a list of some of the best recognition tools you can find anywhere. You can reach that list here: Top Recognition Software of 2024.
That being said, if your organization uses Microsoft Teams on a daily basis, then you should invest in an employee recognition platform with complete Teams integration and that is Teamflect.
Teamflect’s greatest strength surely lies in its complete Microsoft Teams integration. Team members are able to exchange customized recognitions with each other without ever having to leave Microsoft Teams.
Teamflect’s recognitions module pairs perfectly with the rest of its performance management capabilities, working hand in hand with other modules such as 360-degree feedback, performance reviews, tasks, and goals & okrs.