Your employees may be working, but that doesn’t mean they’re committed to your company — or thriving. According to Gallup, just 21% of workers say they feel engaged on the job. As a leader, you want that number to be much higher so everyone can benefit from a cultural, personal, performance, and financial boost. And one way to build engagement is by recognizing employees in many ways, including video.
You may already have a formal or informal employee recognition program. Maybe you hand out crystal awards and trophies at your annual corporate meeting. Perhaps you regularly send gift cards or swag to team members who go above and beyond. Those are all terrific ways to say thanks or acknowledge others’ contributions. However, you might not be tapping into the power of creating personalized video messages.
Personalized video messages have become an increasingly popular tool for employers to motivate and engage employees. Here are some advantages of using personalized video messages in employee motivation:
- It can make employees feel valued and appreciated.
- It can increase employee motivation and engagement.
- It can be customized to suit individual needs.
- It can help create a stronger sense of connection among employees.
- It can provide specific feedback to employees, helping them improve their performance.
- It’s a cost-effective way to communicate with employees, especially in remote or geographically dispersed teams.
If you’re camera-shy or otherwise reluctant to put your words of appreciation or encouragement on a video, remember that these aren’t Hollywood-level creations. They don’t need to be long to be meaningful. A 15-second TikTok-style humorous “thank you” video can tremendously impact someone’s morale. You don’t have to be a professionally trained actor or motivational speaker to make or send a video to employees.
Still unsure when it might be appropriate to use a video to show your worker's gratitude? Try personalized video messaging in these situations.
- When you’re onboarding new hires.
New employees are just starting their journey with your company. They’re eager, they’re excited, and maybe they’re a little nervous. Did they make the right choice by accepting your offer? Will they feel at home? Getting a customized video from you can ensure they feel a sense of belonging from day one.
- When you’re giving performance feedback.
You probably have regular one-on-ones and other meetings with the people you supervise. Before or after positive performance evaluations, consider sending a sincere video. The video doesn’t have to be epic but should highlight a few of the employees’ talents or contributions you’re most thankful for. You should keep this light but genuine.
- When you want to give a team your thumbs up.
Did a team or department do something significant? There’s nothing wrong with sending a customized video message to everyone. Be sure to call everyone by name and include all their accomplishments. For an extra surprise, end the video by announcing a reward they’ll all earn. For instance, you might want to give them all an extra day of PTO or a cash bonus they weren’t expecting.
Certainly, you’ll want to keep progressing with more conventional forms of recognition like physical awards, certificates, and appropriate gifts. Add videos into your employee appreciation mix to stir up more engagement, loyalty, and maybe a bit of fun.
