How to Recognize an Employee for Going Above and Beyond

Timeliness is important for effective recognition because the best deeds happen spontaneously. When teams feel inspired to do one better than asked, we need to pick up on it and acknowledge it right away. 

That’s what we already know. Let’s look at some examples of acts that qualify as “above and beyond.” From there, we’ll share specific ideas on how to recognize an employee in these cases, with options for acts of all sizes, motivations, and impacts.

What does it mean to go above and beyond at work?

Going above and beyond at work means exceeding your role’s expectations or extending yourself beyond your role in the service of others. 

Employees who go above and beyond are the glue of great teams. They model behavior that others emulate, boost morale, make people feel supported, and have a large hand in a company’s success. It’s also pretty likely that they’re the most engaged.

Some examples of going above and beyond:

• Volunteering to take on extra tasks to help others meet a goal.
• Taking the initiative to help instruct and encourage a new or struggling coworker.
• Staying late, starting early, or working on days they normally don’t to meet a tight deadline.
• Going out of their way to provide exceptional service to a difficult or dissatisfied customer or client.
• Coming up with a solution to a problem others have and sharing it, including improving processes at work.

Much of this is easy to spot. But if you pay closer attention, there may also be an employee who is always setting a great example for others. They’re the ones who spur participation at meetings, model a “We’ve got this!” attitude in the face of tough projects, or show plenty of patience and kindness. 

These are qualities displayed by many who know how to be a great teammate. But together, they can add up to someone who is consistently going above and beyond.

How to recognize an employee for exceeding expectations

The appropriate level of fanfare for above-and-beyond behavior can be hard to pinpoint. It has to be noticeable but also sustainable, especially if we want their behavior to catch on.

Here are a handful of ways that may not differ from our usual forms of recognition, but can be tailored for impact.

1. Meeting shoutout

Shoutouts during meetings are a classic for employees who like to shine in public. Choose this for instances where other employees may not have been party to the behavior in question, so they can hear all about it.

Specific language and sharing the impact of the employee’s actions are what make this work. “Carissa stayed online for an extra hour yesterday sorting this out so that we could all move forward today with fewer issues. We’re indebted to you, Carissa!”

2. A sincere appreciation message

You can apply that same framework to a personal message to an employee. Let the impact and gratitude share the stage with the qualities and behaviors that you’d like to see more of. 

“Thanks for staying late yesterday, Carissa. Your dedication to your teammates is everything this company stands for, and we’re lucky you’re around.”

3. A bump in responsibility

Sometimes, it’s important to consider an employee’s motivation for going above and beyond. We shouldn’t mistake people who are trying to succeed at their jobs for those who just have a natural bent toward altruism.

If someone is displaying leadership qualities, see how they handle taking a bigger role in the next project. Use their version of above and beyond to identify what they’re strongest at, and put their skills to the test. 

Keep that specificity there to reinforce the idea that doing more can in fact get you further. “You were so invested in getting those reports note-perfect. It was a big help, and I was wondering if you’d help us decide how to distribute tasks for the next round.”

4. Encouraging reciprocity

There are people who have that natural bent toward altruism. The goal here is to ensure they become values champions. Otherwise, they’re at risk of getting walked upon by others who assume they’ll pick up the slack. That well will eventually run dry, and then there’s no one to model the behavior.

This can be tricky because employees don’t have to go above and beyond to be up to standard. Instead, make it fair. “Nick went the extra mile in working on this solution. Maybe the rest of the team can take it from here and let him go on break.”

And above all else? When other employees pick up on Nick’s behavior and do the same, they should get the same recognition and consideration he did. 

5. A meaningful reward

What about employees who go above and beyond pretty regularly? Or someone who pulled off a feat that helped the company avoid disaster? Distributing a reward can be appropriate as long as recognition exists alongside it. In many cases, that’ll be what makes it meaningful.

Common offerings can be a day off, a coffee break, or even a gift card. Just be sure to deliver it with a message of appreciation. It should also be delivered separately from their regular pay or other usual benefits. Being rewarded, not compensated, preserves the good intentions of both parties and prevents these events from becoming transactional.

Let HeyTaco help

Before we can praise above and beyond behavior, we have to get good at spotting it. HeyTaco-powered peer recognition quickly becomes a custom within the culture. Features like leaderboards emphasize the power of giving, so employees are looking for positive actions to recognize. 

Most importantly, it’s lighthearted, easy to use, and won’t disrupt workflows. Don’t leave recognition all up to leaders; put it in employees’ hands and watch above-and-beyond behavior become the new normal. 

How to recognize an employee FAQ

How do you recognize your employees?

Shoutouts during meetings, team lunches, company swag, messages of appreciation, and job-related perks are some of the most popular employee recognition methods. Peer recognition tools facilitate employees as they recognize one another for helping out, sharing positivity, and more of the day’s small wins.

What is an example message for recognition?

Recognition messages should be brief, specific, honest, and positive. “I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your creativity and commitment to this task. You’ve made some very important contributions that the company is really grateful for.”

How do you know someone has gone above and beyond at work? 

If you’re looking for different ways to express an employee’s high value in a corporate environment, try one of these:

• Surpassed expectations
• Exceeded standards
• Performed beyond requirements

How to show employees that they are valued?

It’s a big question with a long answer, but the short version is that in addition to fair compensation, employees need to be seen as humans doing meaningful work. 

To do this, we personalize recognition, acknowledge their need for work-life balance, and incorporate their feedback into improving processes and the environment.