JEAN DE LA MENNAIS COLLEGE

Founded in 1972 by the Brothers of Christian Instruction, Collège Jean de la Mennais is a private coeducational French high school located in La Prairie on Montreal’s south shore.

In September 2022, the general management and the human resources department proposed to the college’s management team that they take part in a recognition program to meet a need identified by an internal survey of all staff.

Having received a positive response from the college’s seventeen managers, management approached Altrum to begin a recognition training entitled the Orange Program. The aim of this course is to offer managers videos, readings, exercises and challenge cards covering all forms and types of recognition.

”Right from the start, we sensed that most of the managers were getting excited about the idea – it’s going to be a lot of fun!” – Pascale Seccareccia, Orange Program facilitator, Collège Jean de la Mennais.

The Orange Program created opportunities for managers to meet (in pairs or groups) to discuss and share the material and experiences they had acquired. As a result, this method enhanced teamwork collaboration, which had previously been more akin to silo or cycle management.

At the end of the course, management and human resources decided to share their best practices with all staff. Team members are potentially important sources of recognition, since they work alongside each other on a daily basis. They are thus in a position to observe and highlight each other’s achievements, efforts and qualities. So, the college put seventeen orange balls into circulation throughout the college. The aim is that when an employee receives a token of appreciation from a colleague, he or she will receive an orange ball. The employee who receives the orange ball will then give it to the next one!

”To our great surprise, the balls are circulating at all levels! The employees are delighted with this initiative’‘.  – Pascale Seccareccia, Orange Course facilitator, Collège Jean de la Mennais.

In conclusion, the Orange Program has been very beneficial for the management team. At first, some were reluctant, but they got hooked!