Leader Credibility Can Be Rebuilt with Strategic Recognition Says IMA Recognition Council

CHICAGO, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Incentive Marketing Association's Recognition Council zeroes in on the need for business leaders to resolve their post-recession "credibility crisis" with employees in its newest white paper Credibility Crisis: Leadership, Trust and Strategic Recognition in the Workplace.

Released at the 2010 Motivation Show in Chicago, the paper explores the impact of the recession on the already changing image of leaders in the workplace before it goes on to demonstrate how strategic recognition and reward programs can help rebuild relationships in the emerging community of "us" that the new world economy requires.  

According to Karen Renk, CAE, Incentive Marketing Association executive director, "While the characteristics of leadership were already changing over the last 20 years due to the developing world economy, wave of mergers and acquisitions, and impact of technology, the recent recession, with its survival mode tactics, exacerbated the erosion of the leader-to-worker contract."

In the paper, the Recognition Council explains how emerging employee sentiments and leader development trends have intersected in a post-recession economic environment to create a new set of expectations on each side. Flatter organizations, cross-functional teams, technology and more informal work environments have left workers hungry for leaders who are "genuine, really listen, empower employees and make them feel valued."

"Because today's workforce is more diverse than ever and is feeling somewhat betrayed by the decisions implemented by their leaders during the recession, proving that employees are individually appreciated is the best way to engage them and to combat the very real threat of losing valuable talent during the recovery. Well-designed recognition and reward programs can help strengthen the connection between leaders and their employees and stimulate employee engagement," says Renk.

The new white paper from the Recognition Council is part its mission as the strategic industry group of the Incentive Marketing Association responsible for increasing awareness of how recognition and reward programs can help improve business performance.  The complete paper is available on the Recognition Council's website at http://www.recognitioncouncil.org/.  

The Recognition Council is a strategic industry group within the Incentive Marketing Association (http://www.incentivemarketing.org).  The Council's purpose is to educate and promote the benefits of recognition and rewards to the worldwide business community.  More information about the Recognition Council is available at www.recognitioncouncil.org.

SOURCE Incentive Marketing Association