Lucy Lantis, Author at Omaha Steaks

Lucy Lantis is an entrepreneur, a Fulbright Scholar, and an organizational facilitator. Through her firm, Inward Inquiry LLC, she helps organizations and teams create people-first cultures rooted in their mission and values. This article was written in paid partnership with Omaha Steaks as part of a content collaboration exploring workplace recognition. One question I frequently ask leaders I work with is this: “How do you recognize your people?” That simple question seems to warrant a dozen different responses, mainly because recognition means something different to everyone. For some, it means a pat on the back when a benchmark is reached. For others, they think of a happy hour to celebrate a retirement. And sometimes I even hear, “I don’t understand the question…” It’s in that moment that I talk about the power of consistent gestures from a company to an employee, amid high times and low times. A gesture that says, “I see you … you matter … and we care.” So, when Omaha Steaks asked me to discuss best practices within the recognition space, it was a no-brainer. Many leaders think they’re thriving in the recognition space, simply because a program exists (an annual award, a weekly meeting shoutout). But I question … do those recipients really feel something from that? Do they remember it? Do they go home and share it with their loved ones? There’s often a gap that I see between “we recognize people” and “people feel recognized.” Many recognition programs are transactional at best … there’s a plaque, a random gift card, or sometimes just an announcement. I personally remember receiving a polyester laptop bag for my five-year work anniversary; the strap ripped off within six months and ended up in the trash. How memorable. Recognition should not be an afterthought; when done well, it should create a memory, full of meaning. So, when I started listening to all of the stories Omaha Steaks had about these types of moments … I knew they were doing something right. What I heard was that their gifting didn’t end with the recipient; it extended into their life outside of work … and that was intentional. One story I heard was when a young HR professional received an Omaha Steaks holiday package from her employer. They had no idea that a Chateaubriand was such a beautiful, expensive piece of meat. She brought it to her family holiday gathering, and it sparked so many conversations. She was the dark horse turned “holiday hero” for bringing the centerpiece of the meal. She chose to share that gift with her loved ones, and that’s exactly the kind of gift that creates meaning. Here’s another example from a recipient: "When the Omaha Steaks box arrived from one of our vendors, I expected to pop it in the freezer and forget about it. Instead, my teenage son insisted we cook the burgers that night. Then he actually helped in the kitchen – voluntarily! He even called it ‘the best dinner of the year.’ For a business gift to get a teenager off their phone and around the table? That’s something special." — Thomas E., Facilities Supervisor That's the difference between a program and a practice. A program checks a box, and a practice is a consistent gesture that sees a person, creates a memorable experience, and then allows the magic to happen from there. If you're a leader reading this, ask yourself the same question I ask every client: How do you recognize your people? What consistent practices do you have in place to show your employees you care – year-round? In working with Omaha Steaks, it’s easy to see they understand this better than most. Their gifts don't stay in the office; they travel home, they show up at the table, they become part of someone's family story. That's what happens when a gesture is built with intention instead of being a tick off the list. So, if you're rethinking your recognition strategy this year, start there. Find the moments, big and small, that deserve more than a plaque or a gift card and give your people something worth carrying home. Continue Exploring Employee Recognition Looking for more ways to recognize employees with gifts they'll remember? Explore more employee appreciation ideas, recognition best practices, and thoughtful business gifting resources from Omaha Steaks. Employee Recognition Insights Employee Appreciation Benefits Business Gifting ResourcesPut our business gift experts to work for you building a safe and memorable gift for your team.

Employee Appreciation Ideas; “Recognition That You Can Share”