Every successful company must ultimately decide how to recognize and reward their employees.  Recognition has become a fundamental principle of effective management.  Providing employee incentives and simply decorating an employee for a job well done is a solid way to boost productivity. At the end of the day, a person wants to feel that their work is valued and appreciated.  At Planet Beach & HOTWORX Franchising Corporation, incentive trips have become a ceremonial way to celebrate top performance and build employee morale.  The last company success cruise that sailed to the Bahamas was a hit and the next success cruise has already been secured and will set sail out of New Orleans in the summer of 2020.  The company has extended these success trips to the Franchisees so that they can set goals for their staff and then provide the trip as an incentive. The result is a union of motivated people working together towards a common goal and celebrating their achievements.

In a workplace survey conducted by Gallup, employees were asked what types of recognition were the most memorable for them.  The respondents emphasized the following six methods in particular:

1. Public recognition or acknowledgment via an award or certificate
2. Private recognition from a boss, peer or customer
3. Receiving or obtaining a high level of achievement through evaluations or reviews
4. Promotion or increase in scope of work or responsibility to show trust
5. Monetary award such as a trip, prize or pay increase
6. Personal satisfaction or pride in work

I wholeheartedly believe that incentives and recognition when deserved are the best ways to motivate and increase performance.  In addition to the annual Success Cruise, Planet Beach & HOTWORX Franchising hosts an Awards Banquet in conjunction with their annual Convention.  This year, the company will host a Hollywood Glam themed Awards Banquet at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas.  The Banquet allows us to recognize those Franchisees and operators who have demonstrated exemplary performance in a group setting. Every achievement, large or small, should be celebrated and we will do this in style as we glam up in Old Hollywood attire and watch our top performers take the stage.

In closing, if you are in a leadership role and have set goals for your team that are met with a vengeance, reflect on the journey and take the time to applaud those that deserve to be acknowledged for their contributions. The small gesture of gratitude will speak volumes to your employees and will ultimately lead to improved morale and loyalty.  By rewarding and recognizing, your team will be eager to hit the next goal thrown their way. However, to be effective, recognition must be treated like gold and only dispersed when truly deserved.

Written By: Jodie Mateu, VP of Special Events & Productivity, and Franchisee