ROI on employee recognition is off the charts

Editor’s Note: This story was included in the April 10 Pulse sent to subscribers by BankBeat.As you cogitate current economic events, you may have concluded that you will need to do more with less to have a shot at staying even. .When an enterprise goes into preservation (or expense reduction) mode, the best employees walk the journey alongside management with creativity and grace. You know who these people are inside your organizations: They are the hand-raisers, the problem solvers, the deep thinkers, the always-willing volunteers, the self-starters who also teach or mentor or inspire their peers. Always. Maybe you call these people your Rock Stars; we call them Rising Stars.NFR Communications, the publisher of BankBeat and Pulse and as spunky an enterprise as you’ll likely encounter, established “recognition,” “celebration,” and “connection” as company values long ago. The “Rising Stars in Banking” recognition program is rooted in all three of these values — and it was established for your benefit. This program allows you the opportunity to elevate the names and accomplishments of deserving individuals at your bank, to get their story told. The program is also a way for you to thank individuals who deliver value to your brand each and every day.You can scroll through the list of people who’ve been recognized as “Rising Stars in Banking” since the program began in 1999. The list is expansive and reads like a Who’s Who of Community Banking. To be honest, chances are good your name is on the list. There are many mid-career professionals worthy of this recognition. We solicit nominations from people who know them best. If you’re the boss, your nomination carries extra weight. Nominations for our 2025 “Rising Stars in Banking” program are open between now and May 8. Please consider submitting your nomination using this simple form.I watch the interaction that occurs once these stories are shared through social channels. People who’ve been honored through this program bask in the glow of their recognition. It means so much to have one’s dedication, loyalty and hard work acknowledged by managers, board members, colleagues and industry peers, and have it occur in the prime years of their career. It’s like being fed a really great meal when you are your hungriest. From the employee perspective, recognition — being seen for who you are and what you do — is important and valuable. From the employer perspective, the program delivers because it communicates gratitude for what someone has done in the past AND sets an expectation for what comes next. By telling us “this person is a Rising Star,” you’re telling us (and them) that you are invested in their professional development. All of this is worth celebrating.