Thursday, 24 April 2025

Real-World Engineering Projects You Can Try at Home

Real-World Engineering Projects You Can Try at Home
The world of engineering is far more than equations scribbled on whiteboards and theories confined to dusty textbooks. While a solid foundation in the fundamentals is crucial, the true magic of engineering lies in its application – in taking abstract concepts and transforming them into tangible solutions. But how do you bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience when you’re not in a professional lab or workshop? The answer lies in tackling real-world engineering projects right at home.
This isn’t about building a nuclear reactor in your garage (please don’t). It’s about leveraging readily available materials, basic tools, and a healthy dose of ingenuity to engage with engineering principles in a hands-on, meaningful way. These projects are not only educational, but they also foster problem-solving skills, creativity, and a deeper understanding of how the world around us works.

Why Home Projects Matter

Engineering is, at its core, a discipline of practical application. Textbooks provide the “why,” but projects provide the “how.” By building and experimenting, you’ll encounter challenges, learn from failures, and develop a more intuitive grasp of engineering concepts. This hands-on approach offers several key benefits:
  • Reinforced Learning: Applying theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios solidifies understanding and improves retention.
  • Problem-Solving Skills: Projects often present unexpected obstacles, forcing you to think critically and develop innovative solutions.
  • Creativity and Innovation: Home projects encourage experimentation and exploration, fostering a creative mindset essential for engineering.
  • Practical Experience: Building and testing prototypes provides valuable practical experience that can be applied to future projects and careers.
  • Personalized Learning: You can tailor projects to your interests and skill level, making learning more engaging and enjoyable.
Project Ideas for Aspiring Engineers
Here are a few project ideas, categorized by engineering discipline, that you can tackle at home:

1. Mechanical Engineering:

  • Building a Simple Hydraulic Lift: Using syringes, tubing, and water, you can create a miniature hydraulic lift to understand the principles of fluid mechanics and pressure. This project demonstrates how hydraulic systems are used in heavy machinery and construction.
  • Constructing a Wind Turbine: Design and build a small-scale wind turbine using recycled materials like plastic bottles and cardboard. This project explores the concepts of energy conversion, aerodynamics, and renewable energy.
  • Designing a Marble Run with Complex Pathways: Using cardboard, tape, and other household items, create a marble run with intricate pathways, loops, and obstacles. This project emphasizes design, planning, and understanding of motion and gravity.

2. Electrical Engineering:

  • Creating a Simple Circuit with LEDs: Build a basic circuit using LEDs, resistors, and a battery to understand the flow of electricity and the function of circuit components. This project is a great introduction to basic electronics.
  • Building a Motion-Activated Light: Use a motion sensor, a relay, and a light bulb to create a motion-activated light. This project demonstrates the principles of sensor technology and automation.
  • Constructing a Simple Radio Receiver: With basic electronic components, you can build a simple radio receiver to explore the principles of radio waves and signal processing.

3. Civil Engineering:

  • Building a Model Bridge: Design and construct a model bridge using popsicle sticks, toothpicks, or other materials to understand structural integrity and load distribution. Test its strength by gradually adding weight.
  • Creating a Water Filtration System: Build a simple water filtration system using layers of sand, gravel, and activated carbon to understand the principles of water purification.
  • Developing a Model Earthquake-Resistant Structure: Design and build a model building that can withstand simulated earthquakes. This project explores the principles of structural design and seismic engineering.

4. Software/Computer Engineering:

  • Creating a Simple Website: Learn basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to design and build a personal website. This project introduces the fundamentals of web development.
  • Programming a Simple Game: Use a visual programming language like Scratch or a text-based language like Python to create a simple game. This project develops logical thinking and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way.
  • Automating a Household Task with a Microcontroller: Use an Arduino or Raspberry Pi to automate a simple household task, such as turning on a light at a specific time or monitoring room temperature. This project introduces the world of embedded systems and automation.

Tips for Success

  • Start Small: Begin with simple projects and gradually increase the complexity as you gain experience.
  • Plan and Research: Before starting a project, research the necessary materials, tools, and steps involved.
  • Document Your Process: Keep a journal or blog to document your project, including your design, construction, and testing.
  • Don't Be Afraid to Experiment: Engineering is about trial and error. Don't be afraid to try different approaches and learn from your mistakes.
  • Seek Inspiration: Look for inspiration online, in books, and in your surroundings.
  • Safety First: Always prioritize safety when working with tools and materials.
  • Embrace Failure: Not every project will succeed on the first attempt. Failure is an opportunity to learn and improve.
By engaging in these real-world engineering projects at home, you’ll not only deepen your understanding of engineering principles but also develop essential skills that will serve you well in your academic and professional pursuits. The world is your laboratory, and the possibilities are endless. So, grab your tools, unleash your creativity, and start building!
Ready to take your engineering education to the next level? Check out School of PE for comprehensive engineering exam prep solutions designed to help you succeed.

Thursday, 17 April 2025

The Engineer's Toolkit: Essential Software, Apps, and Resources You Need to Know

The Engineer's Toolkit: Essential Software, Apps, and Resources You Need to Know
Engineering, in all its diverse forms, is a field driven by innovation and problem-solving. But to truly excel, engineers need more than just theoretical knowledge. They require a robust toolkit filled with the right software, apps, and resources to translate ideas into reality. This toolkit is constantly evolving, reflecting the rapid advancements in technology and the ever-increasing complexity of engineering challenges. Whether you're a civil engineer designing bridges, a software engineer crafting complex algorithms, or a mechanical engineer optimizing machine performance, having the right tools at your fingertips is crucial.  
This blog post will investigate the essential components of an engineer's toolkit, exploring the software, apps, and online resources that can empower you to tackle projects with greater efficiency and precision.

1. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Software: The Foundation of Design and Visualization

CAD software is the cornerstone of many engineering disciplines, enabling the creation, modification, analysis, and optimization of designs.  
  • For Mechanical and Product Design:
    • For mechanical and product design, engineers often rely on powerful parametric solid modeling software like SolidWorks (Dassault Systèmes, n.d.) for designing and simulating mechanical components.  
    • Autodesk (n.d.) provides a variety of CAD software, including AutoCAD and Inventor, which are industry standards for 2D and 3D drafting.  
    • Fusion 360 (Autodesk, n.d.) a cloud-based CAD/CAM/CAE platform that integrates design, manufacturing, and simulation into a single workflow.  
  • For Civil and Architectural Engineering:
    • AutoCAD (Autodesk, n.d.) remains the industry standard for general 2D and 3D drafting.
    • For Building Information Modeling (BIM), Revit (Autodesk, n.d.) allows engineers and architects to create intelligent 3D models.  
    • Civil 3D (Autodesk, n.d.) is specialized software for civil engineering design, analysis, and documentation.  
  • For Electrical Engineering:
    • Altium Designer: A comprehensive PCB design software that covers all aspects of electronic product development, from schematic capture to PCB layout and manufacturing.
    • Eagle PCB: A user-friendly PCB design software that offers a balance of features and affordability, making it popular among hobbyists and professionals alike.

2. Simulation and Analysis Software: Validating Designs and Optimizing Performance

Simulation software allows engineers to test and validate their designs virtually, saving time and resources.  
  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Software:
    • Simulation software like ANSYS (n.d.) is used for finite element analysis, enabling engineers to analyze the performance of complex systems.  
    • COMSOL Multiphysics (COMSOL, n.d.) is used for multiphysics simulation, allowing engineers to model and simulate coupled phenomena.  
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Software:
    • OpenFOAM (n.d.) is an open-source CFD software that offers flexibility.  
  • Circuit Simulation Software:
    • Information regarding SPICE can be found within many electrical engineering textbooks, and from university electrical engineering websites.

3. Programming and Scripting Tools: Automating Tasks and Enhancing Productivity

Programming skills are becoming increasingly essential for engineers across all disciplines.
  • Python: A versatile and easy-to-learn programming language widely used in data analysis, scientific computing, and automation. Its extensive libraries and frameworks make it a powerful tool for engineers.
  • MATLAB: A numerical computing environment and programming language used for data analysis, algorithm development, and simulation. It is particularly popular in control systems and signal processing.
  • C/C++: Powerful programming languages used for developing high-performance applications and embedded systems.
  • JavaScript: Very useful for front-end web development and increasingly for back-end development. Useful for creating user interfaces and web-based tools.

4. Project Management and Collaboration Tools: Streamlining Workflows and Facilitating Communication

Effective project management and collaboration are crucial for successful engineering projects.
  • Project management software like Microsoft Project (Microsoft, n.d.) helps engineers plan and track projects.  
  • For agile development and issue tracking, Jira (Atlassian, n.d.) is a popular tool.  
  • GitHub (n.d.) is a platform for version control and collaboration, especially in software development.  
  • Communication platforms like Slack (n.d.) and Microsoft Teams (Microsoft, n.d.) facilitate real-time communication.  

5. Mobile Apps: Enhancing Productivity and Accessibility

Mobile apps can provide engineers with access to essential tools and information on the go.  
  • Engineering Calculators: Apps that provide a variety of engineering calculations, such as stress analysis, fluid dynamics, and electrical calculations.
  • Unit Converters: Apps that allow engineers to quickly convert between different units of measurement.
  • Drawing and Sketching Apps: Apps that allow engineers to create quick sketches and annotations.
  • PDF Readers and Annotators: Apps that allow engineers to view and annotate technical documents.

6. Online Resources and Communities: Staying Up-to-Date and Expanding Knowledge

The internet provides a wealth of resources for engineers.
  • Online learning platforms like School of PE offer a wide range of engineering and project management courses  
  • Professional organizations like IEEE (n.d.), ASME (n.d.), and ASTM International (n.d.) publish standards and guidelines.  

Conclusion: Building a Personalized Toolkit

The engineer's toolkit is a dynamic and evolving collection of tools and resources. The specific components of your toolkit will depend on your discipline, specialization, and personal preferences. However, by embracing the essential categories outlined in this blog post, you can build a robust and effective toolkit that empowers you to tackle complex engineering challenges with confidence.  
Remember that technology is constantly changing, so it's essential to stay up to date with the latest advancements. Explore new software, apps, and resources, and don't be afraid to experiment and find the tools that work best for you. Ultimately, the most effective toolkit is one that you customize to meet your specific needs and workflows.
Another great asset for your toolkit is engineering licensure. Check out School of PE today to see our wide variety of FE, PE, and PMP® exam prep courses, all designed to help you pass on your first try!
References
Altium. (n.d.). Altium Designer. Retrieved from https://www.altium.com/
ANSYS. (n.d.). ANSYS. Retrieved from https://www.ansys.com/
ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).(n.d.). ASME. Retrieved from https://www.asme.org/
ASTM International. (n.d.). ASTM International. Retrieved from https://www.astm.org/
Atlassian. (n.d.). Atlassian. Retrieved from https://www.atlassian.com/
Autodesk. (n.d.). Autodesk. Retrieved from https://www.autodesk.com/
Coursera. (n.d.). Coursera. Retrieved from https://www.coursera.org/
Dassault Systèmes. (n.d.). SolidWorks. Retrieved from https://www.solidworks.com/
edX. (n.d.). edX. Retrieved from https://www.edx.org/
GitHub. (n.d.). GitHub. Retrieved from https://github.com/
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). (n.d.). IEEE. Retrieved from https://www.ieee.org/
MathWorks. (n.d.). MATLAB. Retrieved from https://www.mathworks.com/
Microsoft. (n.d.). Microsoft 365 Project. Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/project/project-management-software
Microsoft. (n.d.). Microsoft Teams. Retrieved from
OpenFOAM. (n.d.). OpenFOAM. Retrieved from https://openfoam.org/
Slack. (n.d.). Slack. Retrieved from https://slack.com/
Udemy. (n.d.). Udemy. Retrieved from https://www.udemy.com/
COMSOL. (n.d.). COMSOL Multiphysics. Retrieved from https://www.comsol.com/

Thursday, 10 April 2025

Stress Management Techniques for High-Performing Teams

Stress Management Techniques for High-Performing Teams
Stress in high-intensity situations is a constant companion of high-performing people, even worse when it’s compounded by team dynamics that constantly shift. We’re completely capable of managing acute stress, but when met with it constantly over long periods of time, it can cause negativity in our lives and in the lives of the team around us. In fact, the Mayo Clinic says that consistent levels of stress can lead to physical symptoms like muscle tension and headaches, mental symptoms like lack of motivation and memory problems, and behavioral symptoms like angry outbursts and avoidance. None of these symptoms are beneficial for the effective management of a team dynamic and can turn your high-performing team into a negatively performing one.
Here, we’ll discuss how to manage team stress in the workplace and a few stress management techniques to pull out when a team member needs some help.

How to Manage Team Stress in the Workplace

Stress management as a team is slightly different than standard stress management for one single person or even two. It starts with the early implementation of team dynamics and the standardization of certain practices in the workplace.
Learn to manage personal stress in the workplace- While we are discussing stress as a team, the person we need to focus on first is the individual. Learn techniques to manage personal stress so that it doesn’t spill out into the workplace and stop the flow of others. Lashing out or causing the team to miss deadlines because you lacked the motivation to complete projects will definitely lead to negative consequences for everybody.
Maintain transparency and open communication- Transparent communication is more than being honest. It’s also being vulnerable. In high-stress situations, being vulnerable is like taking down your shield and exposing everything, which is incredibly difficult for most people. You open yourself up for criticism, and telling people that you need help or that you don’t agree with the way things are done is difficult. However, keeping this kind of communication open is one of the best things a team can do because that’s where the real connections that are going to benefit the team are found.
Be respectful of others space- This refers to mental, physical, and emotional space. Maintaining those boundaries enables everybody to operate in a way they’re comfortable with, which encourages higher levels of productivity.
Encourage sufficient sleep- Sleep is a major factor in promoting healthy stress levels. Keep work at work, and when you lay down to sleep, try not to think about problems you’re facing. Sometimes, that’s where the biggest problems are solved, but prioritize sleep in order to stay emotionally and mentally attuned.
Support employee career growth- Certification exams are a big aspect of developing high-achieving team members, but the balance between work and exam review courses is very tricky. If not done well, the stress of both can be overwhelming for the individual and the team. Support employee career growth by giving adequate review time, enabling certain tasks to be delegated elsewhere, and allowing enough time for them to complete the review course and develop their career.
Set realistic expectations- By gauging goal outcomes and deadlines, you can get a general idea of what’s realistic for your team through experience. Set expectations that match the groups' capabilities. This will help manage team stress by helping them know that they can complete a task, even if it is a challenge.
Focus on positive reinforcement instead of negative consequences- Positivity in the workplace goes a long way. Negative consequences can impact the groups' morale and discourage them from doing the best work that they can. It’s a bit counterintuitive, but when you consider the opposite, you’ll see that highlighting the achievements of the team and its members will take the team a lot further.
Encourage time off and flexibility- Time off to decompress and recharge from the general stress of work enables the team to have a clear mind and an understanding of their own limits. By remaining flexible to the team’s ever-evolving demands of life on top of work, you’ll create a workplace where the group is happy to work when the work needs to get done because they know that they have adequate time to disengage. A similar phenomenon is described by Tian Doris in his YouTube video, The Most Overlooked Productivity Superpower.
Encourage monotasking- Multitasking can seem like a great idea sometimes, but the focus we gain when we do only one task at a time is just as good, if not better. Eliminating the necessity of doing four or five different things at once helps streamline the thought process. When we do multiple things at once, we’re also juggling different deadlines, different task lists, and processes, so it’s more like we’re working on ten to fifteen different tasks at once, which can lead to more stress than it’s worth.
Maintain healthy work-life boundaries- Leave work at work, and home at home. Sure, it’s okay to think about a work problem. In fact, sometimes home is exactly the right place to figure it out, and work is a fun place to talk about the achievements of our personal lives. However, when those boundary lines become too blurred, and work and life are suddenly everywhere, there’s no room to really focus on the task at hand (similar to multitasking), and stress levels rise because we can’t do what needs to be done.
Use progress as a measurement, rather than perfection- As creative creatures, we like the idea of something we’ve done to be perfect. However, things can be done sufficiently without being perfect. In fact, sometimes, that perfection is exactly what leads to those elevated stress levels. Instead, reach for an excess of what you need to get the work done, but don’t stress about perfection because, in reality, it’s unattainable and leads to burnout faster than satisfaction.

8 Stress Management Techniques

Stress in the workplace is easily manageable if everybody is considering their own lives and the ways they react to stress. Instead of forcing the rest of the group to deal with the stress of an individual, there are techniques that can be learned that can keep the individual team members responsible for their own emotional state.
Breathe- A breath is a break. Breathing techniques are the simplest way to take a moment to realign with your nervous system and do a small check-in with yourself. Taking a minute between tasks to do this simple task can help maintain a healthy stress level.
Stay mindful in the moment- Breathing exercises are an excellent way to stay mindful, but the important thing is to remind your body that you’re not actually in any danger (because stress is a physical response to perceived danger). Reminding yourself in other ways that you’re not in danger and grounding yourself in where you are is incredibly important.
Stay creative- Finding a creative outlet is an excellent way of maintaining stress levels. It’s an outpouring of what’s inside to the outside, and as you participate in this creative outlet (writing, art, sports), you’re giving the stress you have a place to go rather than staying pent up inside.
Get perspective- Talk to somebody outside of the situation. This person can give you another way to look at a problem and offer solutions without judgement. Sometimes, it’s the simple act of sharing the problem that helps eliminate the stress associated with it.
Sleep on it- Similarly to getting perspective, taking a break from an issue and giving it time to settle will give you a different way of thinking about the problem.
Perform an act of kindness- This one is one of the best. Doing things for others automatically takes us out of our own issues. When we focus on others, our problems seem far less complicated. This can be bringing a treat for the team to boost morale or tackling another person’s problem for them.
Laugh about it- Laughter really is the best medicine. Incorporating humor into stressful situations alleviates the physical pressure of seeing the problem as so serious and can help the group form a better relationship through the event.
Embrace mistakes- Fail forward. John C. Maxwell famously wrote, “Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward.” (Failing Forward) Failure is the foundation of progress and is entirely normal in high-achieving groups. That doesn’t mean that it’s always easy to fail. However, if you embrace those failures and mistakes, you’ll learn to do better next time.
Stress is something that every person tackles throughout their life. When working with teams, that stress is compounded by each individual’s personal way of handling things. Learning useful techniques for managing stress and implementing procedures in the workplace to help eliminate stress in the first place is one way to keep the team from cracking under pressure.
Invest in your team's well-being and productivity with a professional development course from School of PE!
About the Author: Anna Taylor

Anna Taylor is a freelance writer and avid researcher- a jack of all trades, but a master of none. She graduated from the University of Hawai'i with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts because she had no idea what she wanted to be when she grew up. She has since found her love of Extended Reality and the possibilities it brings to the world, as well as gardening, cooking, and writing. Anna lives in Interior Alaska with her family.

Thursday, 3 April 2025

The Role of Recognition and Rewards in Team Motivation

The Role of Recognition and Rewards in Team Motivation
In recent years, the goal of employment has become less so on the financial side of earning potential and more on factors that benefit a person’s emotional fulfillment. There are several reasons for this, the first being that in 2020, people realized that employers could cut them from the job with little to no provocation or notice. This led to people working on personal development and other aspects of their lives that gave them more fulfillment than their jobs.
While money is obviously the primary motivator for having a job, it is no longer the only one and is certainly not the only reason for working together effectively as a team. Instead, it’s being replaced by internal motivation, rewards and recognition, and friendly competition because now the job has to compete with the dozens of other ways a person can sustain their quality of living. It also competes with the person’s desire to live a drama- and conflict-free life.
In this post, we’ll discuss the importance of recognition and rewards in the workplace, how it improves team motivation, and how to create a culture within a team that will motivate good workers to stay.

The Importance of Recognition and Rewards in the Workplace

Recognition in the workplace is a great way to get the most out of your employees and motivate teams to do better. The continual practice of recognizing people for their work is incredibly beneficial for the workplace environment. Here are some ways that it can help your teams operate more effectively together.
Increase Motivation- One of the top motivators of great work is recognition. When people know that their work is being seen and appreciated by others, it drives their desire to do good work and a lot of it. In fact, according to Great Place to Work (O.C. Tanner), survey responders collectively claimed recognition as the main motivator at 37%. This beat out autonomous work by 25% and more pay, which only seven percent of respondents wanted.
Show Appreciation- Appreciation comes in many forms, and by creating an open channel of communication between team members, you can teach them to appreciate each other in new ways. It goes beyond the big stuff, things like completing projects or finding major errors in documents. Even simple events like making a coffee run or saying “thank you” for completing everyday tasks can help the team show gratitude towards one another.
Encourage Friendly Competition- Competition in itself is a great motivator. It forces team members to put their best foot forward and do the job to the best of their ability, even if it’s just for the sake of bragging rights (or larger incentives, like gift cards, company swag, and even bonuses). Working competitively in an amicable way can help improve communication and team effectiveness by teaching them to work swiftly together.
Boost Employee Retention- One major benefit of rewards and recognition in the workplace is the retention of top employees. Employee turnover has increased significantly in the last few years. People are leaving jobs to find employment with companies whose overall goals align with their own personal beliefs and those who can provide them with better opportunities. Recognizing new and old employees for the work they’ve done well is the base level of incentivizing them to stay. That increased motivation to get things done because of positive recognition is also a powerful motivator to stay with a company that appreciates them.
Create a Positive Workplace- Balancing this all out is the benefit of a positive workplace. When people are motivated to stay, to get work done, and to communicate and compete with a good attitude, the resulting culture of productivity and positivity will show in the team’s everyday interactions.

Creating a Culture of Recognition in the Workplace

Recognizing team members for a job well done doesn’t happen overnight. Nor is it something that can be done when you feel like it. Instead, it takes intentional effort to develop a system that enables you to effortlessly recognize individuals for a job well done. Recognition can come in many forms, but whatever form it takes, these steps will help you create a culture of recognition in your workplace.
  1. Establish criteria for recognition. What are the specific job tasks or achievements within your workplace for which you want to recognize employees? Individual tasks are a powerful motivator on the day-to-day. However, the completion of a project may be a more beneficial goal with a higher reward threshold. The longer the project, the more likely a team member is to become unmotivated or discouraged. By setting a reward to go with the completion of a project, they have something to look forward to.
  2. Set your objectives. What is the purpose behind establishing a specific reward? If you already have a positive and productive workplace, the establishment of a system of recognition may seem redundant. There could be room for individual advancement or specific project achievements that require more incentives than others. Creating a goal in mind, such as a specific level of sales or customer conversions within a given timeframe, is an effective productivity driver.
  3. Choose awards that fit your environment (and ensure they’re sustainable). If the company is incapable of repeating company retreats or Christmas bonuses, then don’t set them as a reward. Instead, find the one that fits the culture of the company. Some companies only have a handful of employees, and retreats could be as simple as a short camping trip to a local site, which is maintainable. In terms of individual recognition on a daily basis, look for opportunities to call out a job well done.
  4. Communicate. Communication is key in team motivation. Effective communication is not boastful or demeaning. Instead, it’s clear, concise, and offers ways to advance instead of detracting from an experience. It’s a powerful motivator when everybody understands their purpose within the team, as well as defines their needs and what they need help with.
  5. Celebrate successes. Big goals are reached by small steps taken every day. Celebrate the little milestones in order to maintain momentum. The completion of individual daily tasks can sometimes be rewarding enough.
  6. Monitor the progress of your rewards and recognition program. Just like any goal, the goal of recognizing employees for their work should be a SMART one, which equates to a measurable goal that can be tracked and reached within a given time frame. To understand the benefits of this recognition, monitoring the level of happiness, motivation, and any other factor is key to knowing if it’s really making an improvement to the team.
  7. Encourage employee feedback to understand the impact. Using surveys, personal reviews, and one-on-one conversations, you can gain valuable understanding from those who should be most impacted by employee recognition. By getting this feedback, improvements can be made to the team culture as a whole.

What does recognition in the workplace look like?

Recognition in the workplace can take many different forms that depend heavily on the type of work, the number of people in the company or team, and the work environment as a whole. For instance:
Incentive programs can look completely different from company to company. They can take the form of gift cards offered at the end of the month or yearly company-wide retreats.
Professional development opportunities are another form of incentivizing employees. Professional development can help the company gain more qualified employees and can be a powerful motivator for competitive or high-achieving individuals.
Awards based on desirable qualities is a less expensive way of recognizing individuals on a team for the work they’ve done. With categories like Outstanding Customer Service, Innovator Award, and Most Reliable, you can capitalize on a person’s desire to be recognized by others in a more formal environment where their achievements are recognized by the team.
Consistent recognition of improvement is the most underrated form of recognizing a team member’s hard work. This is a hard skill to learn, but being able to vocalize your impression of a person’s work in a positive way as soon as you see it can be one of the biggest game changers in your team’s motivation.
Recognition can come in many forms, and it plays a powerful role in motivating teams to do better. It looks different for every company, every team, and every individual, and taking steps to evaluate your personal situation and creating a culture of recognition within the workplace will help the team be more productive and show more employee loyalty, enabling you to retain top performers.
Enhance your leadership skills and drive team motivation through professional development. Enroll in School of PE's courses to advance your career and become a recognized leader. Start your learning journey today!
About the Author: Anna Taylor

Anna Taylor is a freelance writer and avid researcher- a jack of all trades, but a master of none. She graduated from the University of Hawai'i with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts because she had no idea what she wanted to be when she grew up. She has since found her love of Extended Reality and the possibilities it brings to the world, as well as gardening, cooking, and writing. Anna lives in Interior Alaska with her family.