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Berea College

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Celebrating Excellence in the Berea Community

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Recognition doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming to be meaningful. Whether it’s a quick digital shout-out or an intentional team moment, celebrating your staff’s hard work reinforces our culture of mutual support.

Use this <a href="https://bereaedu.wpenginepowered.com/human-resources/wp-content/uploads/sites/129/2022/02/hr-Recognition-Ideas-Catalog.pptx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">catalog </a>to find the right way to say “Thank You” to your team today, or read through some of the ideas below!

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Utilize our established platforms to share success with the broader College community.
<ul>
<li>Berea Boost: Submit a shout-out to the Berea Bulletin to publicly recognize a colleague who has been exceptionally helpful, kind, or willing to go the extra mile.</li>
<li>OfficeVibe “Good Vibes”: Use the “Good Vibes” feature in our OfficeVibe portal to send a digital high-five. These can be private or shared on the public feed for the whole department to see.
<ul>
<li>Your department doesn’t have OfficeVibe? Contact Tessa Riley to ask about implementing it!</li>
</ul>
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<li>The Berea Experience Shout-Out: Nominate a team member for a campus-wide service award or a spotlight in our annual celebrations.</li>
</ul>

Campus-Wide Tools

Quick gestures that show you notice the small things.
<ul>
<li>“Top of the Meeting” Shout-Outs: Dedicate the first 2 minutes of every staff meeting to “Kudos.” Let team members recognize each other to foster peer-to-peer appreciation.</li>
<li>The Handwritten Note: In a digital world, a physical card or post-it note left on a desk carries significant weight. Be specific about what you appreciated.</li>
<li>The “Desk Drop”: A small favorite treat, a specialty coffee, or even a unique office supply (like a fun pen or notebook) can brighten an employee’s entire week.</li>
<li>Early Release “Coupon”: If the role allows, give an employee a “leave an hour early on Friday’ pass as a thank you for a particularly grueling project or week.</li>
</ul>

Low-Cost, High-Impact Ideas

Invest in your team’s connection through shared time and creativity.
<ul>
<li>Celebratory Team Lunches: Take the team to the Dining Hall or a local favorite to celebrate the completion of a major project or a successful semester. Stepping away from the “work desk” allows for a more natural, person-to-person connection.</li>
<li>Campus Creative Breaks: Leverage our unique Berea resources! Schedule an hour for the team to visit the Ceramics Studio or participate in guided hikes at Brushy Fork with the Forestry Outreach Center. It’s a great way to de-stress and tap into the creative spirit of our campus.</li>
<li>Change of Scenery: For smaller teams, swap the conference for a walk around campus or a visit to the Pinnacles, Artisan Center, or Windswept.</li>
<li>Professional Development Days: Dedicated time for the team to learn a new skill together &#8211; whether it’s a technology workshop or a guest speaker &#8211; show you are invested in their collective growth.</li>
</ul>
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Recognition Tips for Supervisors
To make your recognition as effective as possible, remember the “Three S’s”:
<ul>
<li>Specific: Instead of “Good job,” say “I really appreciated how you handled x.”</li>
<li>Sincere: Recognition should feel authentic, not like a box to be checked.</li>
<li>Soon: Try to recognize the effort as close to the event as possible to reinforce the positive behavior.</li>
</ul>

Recognition Ideas Catalog

Celebrating Excellence in the Berea Community