15 Inspiring TED Talks On Recognition At Work

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that employees like being recognized for their efforts at work.

Despite that, fewer than 33% of employees feel as though they’re valued at their jobs, according to our research.

Think about it.

When employees feel expendable, they’re not exactly motivated to work as hard as they can.

Luckily, there’s a simple fix: doubling down on employee recognition efforts.

If you need more convincing, here are 15 TED Talks that highlight the importance of employee recognition and what managers can do to make their staffs more productive.

1. Dan Ariely: What makes us feel good about our work?

Workers aren’t solely motivated by money or happiness. They’re actually motivated by progress and a sense of purpose. 

2. Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation

Traditional rewards — think a big hefty bonus — aren’t as effective as many managers think. How, then, can you solve the puzzle of motivation?

3. Laura Trice: Remember to say thank you

Many managers take their employees’ work for granted. They feel as though their workers are lucky to be employed, and because of that, they should work hard every day. But what if improving your employees’ productivity was as easy as remembering to say thank you?

4. Mike Robbins: The power of appreciation

Employers may think that token recognition efforts are enough to motivate employees. But it turns out that there’s a difference between mere recognition and bona fide appreciation.

5. Vineet Nayar: Employees first, customers second

Lots of managers feel as though the customer needs to come first if they wish to succeed. They might just need to look at things differently. In order to take care of your customers, you need to take care of your employees first.

6. Ricardo Semler: How to run a company with (almost) no rules

You don’t hire your employees to micromanage them, do you? Instead of dealing with all the minutiae involved with micromanagement, what if you took a step back and let employees be completely autonomous?

7. Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listen

What if your employee recognition efforts were failing because your workers have been conditioned to pretty much ignore what you say? Changing your approach to speaking can make your recognition efforts more effective.

8. Drew Dudley: Everyday leadership

Contrary to what you might think, managers don’t really have to reinvent the wheel in order to be effective. Successful employee recognition programs don’t necessarily have to be grandiose.

9. Matt Cutts: Try something new for 30 days

If your employee recognition efforts aren’t working, perhaps it’s time to switch things up. Got any ideas you’ve been aching to try out? Put them into effect for 30 days and reassess the situation afterward.

10. Claire McCarty: Missing the obvious in employee recognition

Workers are definitely motivated to an extent by free meals and the like. But are those kinds of employee recognition efforts really helping today’s workers reach their true potential?

11. Graham Weston: Creating workplace cultures that harness the energy of inspired employees

Here’s a form of employee recognition you might not think about often: encouraging your workers to band together behind a good cause.

12. Kate MacAleavey: Expressing appreciation

We all like to be appreciated. In fact, appreciation is one of the biggest motivators in the workplace. Yet there seems to be a lack of expressing appreciation at most offices. Why is that?

13. Arnold Blits: Why it is all about personal recognition

Personal recognition is one of the biggest motivators in life. For that reason alone, managers should work hard to ensure they recognize their employees’ efforts on a regular basis.

14. Jennifer Willis-Rivera: The hidden power of kindness

Being kind to your employees can actually be selfish — but in a good way. Here’s how kindness and employee recognition can make your workers become the best versions of themselves.

15. John Sweeney: Why kindness matters

A simple way to increase productivity: be kind to your employees — recognize their efforts — and they’ll pay it forward and be kind to their coworkers too. Everyone will be happier.

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