A well-designed and implemented employee recognition program is essential for any modern organization to assure their employees that they are valued and appreciated. To maximize the benefits of such a program, it should not only be implemented effectively but should also be able to capture the interest of the employees and motivate them to participate in the program. One of the first steps in developing an effective employee recognition program is to give it an appropriate name that employees can relate to. To make this process simpler and quicker for organizations, we have put together a list of 150innovative names for employee recognition programs that they can choose from.
What’s in a Name?
To make the recognition program truly interesting enough for the employees to sit up and take notice, it should have a name that stands out. Hence, organizations need to invest some time and effort in coming up with a unique name for the recognition program.
Studies have shown that over 70% of the employees across organizations believe that an interesting program name is indicative of how interesting the program is likely to be.
How to decide on the name for an employee recognition program?
Selecting an appropriate name for an employee recognition program can often prove to be a challenging task. This is because the program name is likely to act as the first element of communication of the program. Organizations can consider the following points while deciding on the best names for their employee recognition programs:
1. Create Emotional Connect
The name of the program, just like the brand name should create an emotional connect with the employees like a sense of aspiration, achievement or fulfilment. It could relate to terms from sports or adventure such as ‘Aces’, ‘Extra-milers’, ‘Bravo’, ‘Cheers’ or Shine’.
Such a program name itself can be a source of motivation and excitement for the employees as they can relate to it. Also, different cross-cultural nuances should be considered to avoid offending any segment of the employees
2. Make it Meaningfuland Relevant
The program name should be in sync with the other elements of the program including the objectives, names of recognition, criteria and even the visual aspects of it. For example, a program name such as ‘Extra-milers’ or ‘Above and Beyond’ immediately creates an image of a program that focuses on performance beyond designated goals.
Also, if the program incorporates significant elements of peer-to-peer recognition then it is advisable that the program name is a little more information such as ‘Wow’, ‘X-Factors’, or ‘Hurray’. The program name should also gel with the corporate brand and organizational culture.
3. Keep it Simple, Catchy and Unique
It is important that employees can easily recall the program name. The name should be decided to keep in mind the demographic and cultural profile of the workforce. For example, a program name such as ‘Hall of Fame’ or ‘Achievers Club’ might do well in an organization with a more mature workforce whereas names such as ‘Transformers’ or ‘Rockstars’ might do better for an organization that has the younger workforce.
However, choosing a name that is easy to understand, pronounce, and remember is highly advisable. Similarly keeping the names short and concise is likely to provide more positive results than having longer and complicated program names.
4. Link it to the Corporate Brand
Establishing a linkage with the corporate brand (as a prefix or suffix) can help integrate the recognition program with other organizational initiatives; rather than being seen as something standalone. For example, program names such as ‘IBM Heroes’, ‘Microsoft Aces’, ‘Bravo Infoscions’ or ‘Wow Wipro-ites’ might add a stronger organizational connect to the program.
5. Invite Suggestions from Employees
Involving the employees to come up with suggestions for the program name is a very good way to not only get creative and innovative ideas but to engage them in the implementation of the program itself. Employees who come up with good suggestions can be incentivized or recognized during the launch of the program, further increasing their engagement levels with the program.
Examples of Innovative Names for Employee Recognition Programs
We have put together this list of 150 program names to make it easier for organizations to decide on the best possible names for their programs. One word names tend to work best but they are harder to come up with. Two or three-word names can do well but one should be careful not to make it too long and difficult to recall.
Organizations can prefix or suffix their corporate brand to the suggested names as required. Also, organizations whose brand names start with ‘I’ can leverage the ‘i’ in their program names (as a prefix).
One-Word Names
1. Aces
2. Achievers
3. Actualizers
4. Actuators
5. Applause
6. Appreciate
7. Aspire
8. Attain
9. Badges
10. Blockbuster
11. Bravo!
12. Caps
13. Catalysts
14. Celebrate
15. Celebrations
16. Chargers
17. Cheers!
18. Diamonds
19. Doers
20. Dynamos
21. Evangelists
22. Extra-milers
23. Feathers
24. Finishers
25. Gems
26. Go-getters
27. Gratitude
28. Hard-hitters
29. Heroes
30. HiFives
31. Highfliers
32. Hurray!
33. Jewels
34. Kudos
35. Leap
36. Leapfrog
37. Limelight
38. Maestros
39. Ninjas
40. Ovation
41. Overachievers
42. Pacesetters
43. Pathfinders
44. Pinnacle
45. Propel
46. Recognize
47. Rise
48. Rockstars
49. Salute
50. Shine
51. Snipers
52. Spark
53. Sparkle
54. Spotlight
55. Sprint
56. Stars
57. Strikers
58. Strive
59. Summit
60. Superheroes
61. Superstars
62. Surge
63. Thanks
64. Trailblazers
65. Transformers
66. Upsurge
67. Value
68. Vault
69. Virtuosos
70. Wings
71. Workstars
72. Wow!
73. X-Factors
Two-Word Names
1. Acers Club
2. Aces Club
3. Achievers Circle
4. Achievers Club
5. Action Heroes
6. All Champs
7. All Stars
8. Big Fish
9. Big Guns
10. Big Shot
11. Bright Stars
12. Champions Club
13. Champions League
14. Extramilers Club
15. Extraordinary Performers
16. Five Stars
17. Game Changers
18. Gold Standard
19. Gold Stars
20. Greater Heights
21. High Achievers
22. High Fives
23. High Flyers
24. High Impact
25. Higher Echelon
26. Higher Level
27. Honor Club
28. Hot Shots
29. Key Drivers
30. Leading Lights
31. Master Blasters
32. Mega Stars
33. Mountain Movers
34. MVP Club
35. Next Level
36. Outstanding Achievers
37. Premier League
38. Shinning Stars
39. Special Mention
40. Standing Ovation
41. Super Achievers
42. Super Heroes
43. Super Performers
44. Super Squad
45. Three Cheers
46. Thumbs Up
47. Top Brass
48. Top Guns
49. Top Performers
50. Top Scorers
51. Winners Circle
52. Work Champs
53. Work Oscars
54. Workplace Heroes
55. Workplace Rockstars
56. World Beaters
Three-Word Names
1. Above and Beyond
2. Champions at Work
3. Circle of Excellence
4. Five Star Club
5. Hall of Fame
6. League of Achievers
7. League of Heroes
8. Movers and Shakers
9. Round of Applause
10. Legends of Work
Names starting with ‘i’
1. iApplaud
2. iAppreciate
3. iAspire
4. iCelebrate
5. iCheer
6. iRecognize
7. iShine
8. iStar
9. iThank
10. iValue
11. iLeap
Organizations should complement innovative program names with innovative and creative names for the awards or recognition policies themselves.
Read more:
40 Creative and Innovative Award Names for Employee Recognition
70 Innovative Award Names for Employee Recognition (part 2)
Organizations need to invest time and effort to come up with innovative names for employee recognition programs as one of the first steps towards developing an effective employee recognition program. A unique, innovative, and relevant program name is likely to generate more interest and engagement in the program from the employees.
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