Shine the spotlight on those employees who make a big difference in your firm's success! Let your people know they make a difference – and that you appreciate them.

If you want to shine the spotlight on outstanding employees, you can do it without hefty bonuses, "thank you trips," and expensive gifts. If you're interested in effective, low-cost employee recognition techniques, here's a summary of time-tested approaches to get you started:

• Bulletin Board Announcements. Recognize the accomplishments of an employee in front of his peers and you'll build a sense of pride and loyalty that will last forever. A bulletin board announcement, perhaps coupled with a photograph of the employee, will do just that.
• Memos for the File. Want to thank an employee for a job well done? Write a letter of appreciation and let your employee know that you're placing a copy in her personnel file.
• Newspaper and Magazine Releases. Many newspapers and magazines will publish short news briefs about your employees. Suburban weeklies, business publications and industrial trade magazines are usually eager for information of this nature. Don't overlook the power of a two- or three-line write-up in the paper; most employees have never been mentioned in the press and will cherish even the smallest write-up. All it takes is a one-page news release, stating the employee's name and the facts surrounding his accomplishments.
• Symbolic Incentives. Do you have a stuffed animal which serves as the company mascot? A traveling trophy? A humorous wall display? Let your mascot or display serve as a symbolic token of appreciation for a job well done. Circulate it to an employee who has performed well and let her keep the symbolic gift for a limited period of time.
• Professional Education. As a token of gratitude for exceptional performance, consider sending a valued employee to a professional seminar or training course. You'll recognize your employee's accomplishments and provide him with skills that will enhance future performance.
• Ambassador Service. If an employee has served you and your firm well, let her serve as your "personal ambassador" from time to time. She can attend ceremonial functions in your stead, speak to gatherings of employees and, perhaps, even represent your company at professional or trade shows.
• Simple Gifts. Small gifts – like coffee mugs and company sweatshirts – are deeply appreciated by many employees. Buy imprinted goods in quantity; they can double as public relations giveaways. For non-imprinted or one-of-a-kind gifts, perhaps you can buy items from a friend or colleague in a non-competing firm at cost.
• Plaques. While plaques are one of the most traditional ways of recognizing outstanding employee performance, they're still effective – especially when they're located in a prominent place.
• End-of-Month Recognition. Consider recognizing one outstanding employee at the end of every month or every quarter. You can turn this occasion into an "event" by hosting a coffee hour for the employee to be recognized, or by adding his name to a "featured employee" display.
• Employee Coaches. Let your top employees act as "mentors" and "coaches" to new employees entering your department – or even to established employees seeking professional growth. The honor will not go unnoticed and the coaching experience will give your top performers new skills.
• Time Away. Does your outstanding employee have a subject she'd like to learn more about? Is she interested in pursuing a special work-related project? Give your really good people "time away" from their routine duties and let them pursue these special interests. Well-rounded, appreciative employees will be the result, along with some potential improvements in the workplace.
• Luncheon Recognitions. Once a quarter, schedule a simple "thank you" luncheon where you recognize top performers. Better yet, invite your boss, the Personnel Director, or top management to attend along with you and your people.
• Gifts for the Family. To recognize a good employee, recognize his family! Offer a dinner out, a trip to an area amusement park or some other simple token of appreciation the whole family can enjoy.
• Advertisements. While ads can be a bit on the costly side, don't hesitate to honor your people in paid newspaper or trade ads. Or, let your present advertising do double duty; add an employee recognition tag line to your advertisements.

Use these suggestions to begin thinking about ways you can recognize the people who make a difference in your firm. And remember: you don't have to use all of these techniques to build an effective recognition program. Just as a single employee can make a unique contribution to your business, a single form of recognition can serve as a unique honor to the employee.

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