So, I received this text the other day from my friend in Baltimore. He wrote: “have a great day selling undeserved praise!”

After I picked myself off the floor, I replied: “What?!”

Let me backtrack. He was in town last fall to take part in ArtPrize, a pretty cool artist’s contest that took place in our fair city, Grand Rapids, Michigan. I got the chance to catch up with him one night while he was here, and our conversation naturally led to our jobs.

When I first told him what I do, he said with contempt, “Oh, you people. You’re part of the problem!” He is my age, and members of our generation (Gen X) fall on the cusp of those who believe in recognition and those who don’t. Clearly, we know where he stands!

But I know that part of that is not just his age, but also because he works with troubled kids. And those kids are members of the Millennial Generation (or Gen Y), who are known to thrive on, perhaps require, regular recognition and feedback. I suspect that he thinks this tendency feeds some of their problems. This mindset represents a pretty typical rift between older and younger generations. Cori addresses this subject very well in a White Paper she wrote on generational differences and how we can navigate them in our lives and in the workplace. You can read it here: Talkin 'Bout My Generation.

As far as being “part of the problem”, or “selling undeserved praise”, here is where I stand:

Recognition done correctly can be a way to appreciate and motivate people in our lives. Done without meaning, sincerity, or merit, it is just a hollow ploy.

We make a mistake if we think that giving praise should be done just because a person needs it. And most people are perceptive enough to recognize a disingenuous comment when they hear one, anyway. Undeserved recognition has no value, no life span, and no strategic outcome.   

However, if we give it when it is earned it can be very powerful. Think about the last genuine compliment or pat on the back you received. It felt pretty good, right? And it probably naturally made you stand a little taller or want to work a little harder to prove this wasn’t just an isolated incident. Maybe it made you feel more valued and even improved your attitude about your work or your situation. These are all results that benefit both the giver and receiver of recognition.

At Baudville, we always recommend that recognition be given promptly after the behavior or performance, that it be sincere (and, if possible, include a handwritten note), and specifically mention what is being recognized.

Follow these guidelines and no one will accuse you of being part of the problem!

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Allison is Baudville’s one (and only) Copywriter. She’s been writing for a variety of media for more than eight years, so if she tells you she has been there and done that, she probably has. Before embarking on a career in writing, Allison worked as a department manager where she used Baudville products to motivate her team. She’s what we call a true believer! 

Located in West Michigan, Baudville often experiences lake effect snow storms during the winter months. This makes the driving conditions slow and dangerous and the wind is cold and brutal. Yet employees make the trek into work, often leaving incredibly early to make it in on time.

Is that dedication or what?

Our company is really good at recognizing the effort it takes to get to work on such a snowy day, and this week has been no different. The local meteorologists predicted the onslaught of a blizzard yesterday afternoon, so employees were given a casual day. Casual days are highly coveted around Baudville, and they give employees the ability to wear jeans for the day.

Today, the snow really hit, and many of us woke to 6 inches of snow or more in our driveways. The snowing and blowing have continued all day, so the company treated employees to lunch and delivered sandwiches for everyone. Employees don’t have to drive in the poor conditions and receive a treat for making it into work.

Although the weather is frightful, it truly is delightful inside Baudville.

Regardless of your location, your employees face challenges that make it difficult to get to work. Recognize their efforts, and their dedication will grow.

 Here are some employee recognition ideas you can use on your own “snow day.”

• Give a casual day
• Provide lunch or a treat
• Brush the snow off employees’ cars
• Write thank you cards to express your appreciation
• Warm up with a team building activity
• Give employees an extra 15 minutes at lunch or break to relax

These are some pictures taken at Baudville this morning. You can tell we have a lot of snow!

You don’t have to analyze a study on motivational theory to understand some basic principles.  Namely, people respond positively when they are acknowledged and appreciated for their efforts.  This is not limited to the workplace, but in every aspect of the human condition—from raising children to greeting strangers.

So if everyone “knows” the importance of frequent, meaningful expressions of gratitude and praise, why don’t we practice it all the time?

Herein lies the mysterious chasm between a person’s knowledge and their actual behavior.

Take this example: who amongst us doesn’t know the importance of regular exercise and physical activity, eating healthy foods of the correct portion size, and avoiding harmful substances like tobacco?

Now—how many of us actual achieve the full execution of this knowledge, or even a significant percentage?  There would be no rising healthcare costs, and everyone would look like athletes!

What causes some of us to succeed while others fail?  Typically, the secret ingredient is having a coach or mentor.  Every athlete, from grade school to professional sports player, has a coach.  This person provides encouragement and guidance.

Keep this analogy in mind as you work to increase day-to-day recognition behaviors, either personally or in your organization.  Since none of us can realistically have a recognition coach by our side, think of Baudville as the next best thing!

Have you seen our new Recognition Binder System?  It literally is a coach that sits on your desk.  The tabbed dividers are filled with easy to follow (and easy to implement!) tools and ideas for frequent, consistent, immediate, and relevant daily recognition in your workplace.

Allison mentions one of the tools (the IOU Coupons) in her blog post below.

Just like any developing “athlete,” continued practice makes perfect.  Unlike diet and exercise, however, maintaining day-to-day recognition really can be easy!

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On the surface, Kurt is Baudville’s mild-mannered Director of Sales, but when it comes to recognition, he quickly turns into the dashing Director of Positive Mojo. Using his powers as a Certified Recognition Professional, Kurt infuses his team with recognition knowledge and experience, while encouraging them to practice daily recognition with his energetic and creative flair. We’re pretty sure there’s a cape hanging from the back of his door. 

When I applied for this job at Baudville, it would have been an understatement to say that I REALLY wanted it. It wasn’t just that my current job was sucking the life out of me; it was more that I felt like this was THE job. If it wasn’t this, I honestly couldn’t imagine what it could possibly be. But as badly as I wanted the job, there was actually a “deal killer” for me—they couldn’t have a strict dress code.

The aversion goes years back to when I worked in a corporate job where the dress code was extremely conservative. I thoroughly hated that we were required to always wear hosiery and closed-toed, closed-heeled shoes. In Michigan winters, this isn’t really a problem; but in the middle of August it is. And, for someone with a disturbing number of shoes, the footwear limitations were unbearable. When I got out of there, I vowed I’d never do it again.



Well, I’m happy to report that Baudville maintains a corporate casual dress code, with jeans allowed every other Friday. That’s casual enough for me! And, if you interpret the dress code rules the way I do, then just about anything goes when it comes to shoes (except where safety is concerned, of course). This is good news for adequate rotation of my collection!

I’ve shared this fascinating story with you to make a point about how little things like dress code can make a big difference in employee morale. Studies show that most employees prefer a casual dress code over a formal one. It allows more freedom—including freedom of expression—and helps even the playing field for those who simply can’t afford formal business attire. I’ve also read that in addition to improving morale, it can give employers a competitive edge in attracting (and maintaining) talent.  

There has been buzz around the ‘ville that we may go totally casual, but I have a theory that we never will for one big reason: casual days are used as rewards. When teams finish a big project or reach a goal, they get awarded a casual day. People look forward to the possibility, and with the absence of that option, the company would lose a 100% free (not to mention fat free) way to reward us. To some, it may seem like a minor perk, but I can truly feel a different vibe on impromptu casual days and casual Fridays. Baudville has seen enough of this positive mojo to know that it works, too.

If you’re not already wearing jeans every day, then think about using casual days to reward for your staff or raise morale around the office. These coupons are a fun way to do it:



Need other ways to affordably recognize your team for everyday wins? Try our Recognition Binder System!

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Allison is Baudville’s one (and only) Copywriter. She’s been writing for a variety of media for more than eight years, so if she tells you she has been there and done that, she probably has. Before embarking on a career in writing, Allison worked as a department manager where she used Baudville products to motivate her team. She’s what we call a true believer!  

I’ve written before about how past companies that I’ve worked for didn’t practice employee recognition. At my previous employer, the culture was such that it was hard to imagine them ever doing it. Former coworkers that I talked with about this new job actually thought it was a bit strange. Their attitude seemed to be that it was a nice idea, but not for us. Not for you, really? You’re so confident and content that you don’t need a pat on the back once in awhile? I didn’t buy it then, and I’m not buying it now.

What’s funny is that they were so quick to write off recognition. Maybe they were harkening back to the late 1990’s, when corporate corridors were lined with motivational posters that implored you to soar to new heights, but gave nothing in return. (Remember those?) Partnered with stilted award ceremonies, they garnered more cynicism than inspiration. But recognition doesn’t have to be exaggerated or contrived; in fact, it has the potential to be really effective if it’s not.

If you want to build a recognition program, remember that there is no prescription for how it is carried out—you are at liberty to write the rules and you can make it anything you want.

Think about your company culture. It’s often upper management that forms that culture and the people who stay there long term become an influential part of it as well. It’s up to those players to create a program that they’re comfortable with that’s in tune with the company’s vibe. Don’t like flowery cards? Don’t use them. Can’t imagine ever giving a trophy? Then trophies aren’t part of your program. The core of a recognition program is recognition itself—and that can take many different forms.

We took this to heart when we started developing our latest products. As a result, there is *literally* something for everyone. Within each product category there is a range from traditional to contemporary, simple to elaborate, cheeky to sincere. We’ve also taken the conventional recognition items like trophies and certificates and turned them on their heads (so to speak). So, if you’re thinking recognition has to be serious and formal, you might want to take a second look:

Daily Recognition Paper Trophies            Everyday Certificate Pads          Peel-and-Stick Recognition Notes

Recognition, whatever its form, is vital to maintaining a happy, satisfied, and productive workforce. Find something that works for your organization and go out there and do it!