The power of peer recognition

Research by Paul Black, a School of Accountancy assistant professor and dean’s fellow in the Harbert College of Business, indicates that commendation directly from colleagues boosts camaraderie and collaboration especially when it comes from those who are closest to the employee.

This esprit de corps, in turn, fosters a happier work force that contributes to the financial success of the company. 

Peer recognition can be as simple as a colleague telling a coworker “great job,” although some companies set up social media-type platforms known as peer recognition systems that allow co-workers to send complimentary comments via the software.

Black cautions that a peer-recognition system that features leaderboards or ranking system could backfire and lead to hard feelings among employees. Comparison is the killer and peer-recognition systems should be careful that they don’t come across as a popularity contest, he said.

Read the full story, “The positive side of peer pressure,” published in the Fall 2025 issue of Harbert Magazine.

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Black’s insights come from two research papers he published in the journal Accounting, Organization and Society.

• “When being recognized makes employees feel less appreciated: Evidence regarding when and why peer-to-peer recognition could backfire,” which he co-authored with Mark Cecchini and Andrew Newman at the University of South Carolina.
• “The effect of peer-to-peer recognition systems on helping behavior: The influence of rewards and group affiliation.”