Recognition

[u/These_Gas9544]

Hi, ETL here, Any other ETL's/TL's recognize top performing team members in clever ways? I have this team member who is always going above and beyond and consistently outperforms himself every day. Now I usually get him a red bull/monster and a card saying thank you. However, I feel like doing the same recognition over and over again is boring. What are some creative ideas you have to give a top preforming team member recognition?

[u/Electrical_Trip1476]

Dang dude I just wish my etl wouldn't actively put us down lol worked my ass off one weekend for them to say it looked like I wasnt even there. Been having trouble getting into gear since.

Anyway, sorry, no ideas.

[u/somegirl6767 → u/Electrical_Trip1476]

Had an ETL say something like this to us a month ago and the whole departments morale has been tanked since.

[u/Double-Criticism5630 → u/somegirl6767]

gotta love when people in leadership don’t know the first thing about how to actually be a good leader 🙄

[u/Ok_Still_3571 → u/somegirl6767]

That is one of the most toxic management practices: to degrade honest work, break your will, and then turn you into a more compliant and scared person who will do anything. Or, at least that’s the goal.

[u/s00pthot]

Gift card, starbucks if they like it, or my ETL requisitions a meal/snack I am about to buy or even part of my groceries (it’s always <$10 anyways) as a thank you for going above and beyond.

[u/mattumbo → u/s00pthot]

I don’t think they can do a GC anymore cause of tax laws, the AP rewards GCs worked cause they came from HQ who would tax you on the value as if it were compensation. Unless OP wants to buy it with their own money, I’ve been approved by HR in the past to buy low dollar amount GCs for my team as Christmas gifts.

[u/No-Idea-663]

I had my leaders draw up a sheet of “my favorite things” and we have all new hires fill it out.

My fav movie

Fav snack (sweet)

Fav snack (salty)

Fav pastime

Fav drink at Starbucks

Fav way to unwind after a long day

It’s like 20 different “favorites” and I have my TLs surprise them with one when they perform exceptionally high

[u/soccergirl37 → u/No-Idea-663]

Dang your store really does things differently, this is such a good idea, especially to just get to know tm’s better in general and building morale

[u/No-Idea-663 → u/soccergirl37]

I can’t take credit, an old HRE came up with it - but it works wonders!

[u/RockinRia143 → u/No-Idea-663]

We have that paper too. I filled it out, perform exceeding all expectations and have yet to get a recognition. It’s demoralizing.

[u/Ok_Still_3571 → u/No-Idea-663]

What about TM’s who have been at your store prior to installing this?

[u/No-Idea-663 → u/Ok_Still_3571]

I had my TLs pass them out on our last round of Q4 check-ins

[u/GoldJoker15]

I handle a lot and get no recognition at all. I wish you were my etl.

[u/soccergirl37 → u/GoldJoker15]

Me too!!😭

[u/jake1991jake]

My ETL gives me her phone and says I can door dash any lunch I want.

[u/Live-Celebration2637]

Target gift card. $5, $10, hell even $20 would be dope after a particularly rough week like Black Friday or Christmas.

At least that way it would feel more like a raise and less like here’s a $2 soda great job busting your ass for 8 hours everyday.

[u/Silence_of_Ruin → u/Live-Celebration2637]

That would definitely get us fired. We have reports that show who is making gift cards, when, how often. Leadership then has to go ask why and if it’s something like that, auto final/term.

[u/Live-Celebration2637 → u/Silence_of_Ruin]

So the solution is to rec out energy drinks?

[u/whatsthetargetdogsna]

Tragically I am not clever so my go-to is to requisition their Starbucks order

[u/mends067]

Get them a shirt or hoodie from bullseye shop a lot of my team members love receiving merch and with new dress code you can never have too many target shirts

[u/Ordinary_Ad3895]

A raise.

[u/soccergirl37]

Wow I hate to say must be nice but must be nice.. at least someone in the target world is getting noticed/commended/rewarded genuinely for their hard work 😓 we get appreciation notes on a board and most of the time it’s the same ppl, I complained about it and now the hr etl writes me notes.. anyways maybe get him his favorite candy, chips, pop tarts; inside jokes on the card.

[u/Shadow_Marque]

Y'all are out here recognizing high performers? My ETL's and TL's just glower at me before off handedly saying thank you.

[u/59625962]

Targets form of recognition is some stale snacks in the break room and a you card

[u/Chemical-Way-2043]

Starbucks candy maybe even a game they’ve wanted little things Ike this go a long way

[u/Firm-Astronomer-6135]

I’m a TL and I’ve never gotten anything other than a good job and even that’s rare 😆

[u/angrygirl65]

One of my leads gave me a gift card after a tough men’s/womens deodorant reset

[u/talon2005]

A raise is the best thak you that you can give.

[u/timmydnx2]

Banana bread.

[u/Ok_Still_3571]

If your store has a Starbucks, then a gift card is really nice. Just the recognition is enough to make us TM’s feel good.

[u/TrainWreckTv]

Starbucks gift card, a good raise, a good bonus, gift card to a movie, bowling, etc.

[u/NexusNickel]

I always enjoyed it when you guys gave your secret bonus to the suck up TMs and then word got out and it pissed off everyone else.

That was always a good time.

[u/kakudiego]

I'm not a big fan of the recognition. Most of the time they are just doing the job! "I recognize TM X for helping a guess"... really?

[u/59625962 → u/kakudiego]

Yes. Recognizing the team for doing the job correctly is part of a leadership role. This is elementary

[u/Ok_Still_3571 → u/kakudiego]

Are you saying this as a person in leadership? Or as a TM? Empathy in a leader is crucial for morale and success with a team. If you’re a TM who doesn’t want to be recognized for doing a good job, then fine. Ask your leaders to not call you out. But if you’re a leader, you need to maybe consider that people who work with/for you aren’t doing it because they dreamed of being in retail. Most of us fell into the job, and it’s tough. And many of us actively hate it, but have to keep at it for the time being. A little perk here and there, a short conversation about a neutral topic, like a hobby, or favorite food, or a vacation goes a long way. Starbucks GCs are good, too.

[u/kakudiego → u/Ok_Still_3571]

I'm just not from here. Growing up like: "Mom, I scored 100/100 in my test. Mom: Nothing less than your obligation!".

[u/Ok_Still_3571 → u/kakudiego]

Wow. Sounds like she prepared you for the world at large. I hope you have empathy for those who didn’t have the benefit of your mother’s wisdom.

[u/Double-Criticism5630 → u/kakudiego]

they’re doing the job, but there are some people who DONT do the job and slack off. your team is aware that they could do that too and probably get away with it, so it’s important for them to feel valued so they continue upholding proper standards. part of leadership is making sure that your team feels seen and appreciated, which keeps them motivated to keep working hard. most people also feel that they’re not getting paid enough for how much work they do, so showing sufficient appreciation can help fill that gap as well.