In any organisation ask the top Management, do you have a R&R policy,  invariably you would get a reply, we have R&R policy, last year we gave so many Rupees or Dollars as reward to our Star Employees, sent them abroad, and so on and on. We recognise “x” number of employees and this has been increasing YoY.

In the same breath, ask them the second question, in how many instances employees efforts were recognised which did not materialise into results and, chances are you will be confronted with a stoic silence in most of the cases.

Imagine two employees, working for the same company but in different Geographies

One slogs and sweats in his territory, does a great job, a professional and crowned sales rep, always ready to help clients and team mates. However, due to circumstances beyond control he doesn’t reach his sales target for the year. Maybe biggest account has gone bankrupt or maybe there’s just less economic activity in the region.

Another case, you have one more sales rep from the same company. He is not very competent and he never bothers to go the extra mile to help his colleagues or his clients. But due to circumstances beyond his control he achieves his sales target for the year. Maybe a big order drops in completely by chance, or maybe the growth in his region is increasing, or maybe his sales target just wasn’t ambitious enough from the start.

Who among the two deserves Reward & recognition? Former rep , who does a great job, but performs below target or later, who just got lucky this year?

Its not confined to Corporates alone, its all pervasive. Take a look at all such instances where  you come across R&R. Probe a little more and chances are, most of them had rewarded for results, efforts materialising into concrete gains for the company or institution in the form of Larger order flow, a Key Account coming into the fold etc etc.   none or negligible for  “efforts NOT materialising into results“. If there is a miscarriage in the 8th month or god forbid for any reason the pregnancy has to be terminated, would you discount all the pains the women has undergone. The care for herself, diet restriction, Control on her movements, periodic checkup, etc etc…All this for what, a successful parturition. In the end if things dont go as planned, do you discount all the pains and pangs.

Corporates and more so the HR professionals have a lot to learn from Sports….many a time , some of the awards are given to players from teams who might not have made it to Semis. Now, thats recognition, this trait is noted by many and motivates many to give a try.

Further, from the employee perspective it gives impression to him or her, that while its OK to get rewarded for Results, Efforts are also recognised and that they should keep trying and question Status Quo. Further, this makes organisations more inclusive when it comes to R&R.