How did you celebrate Employee Appreciation Day in March? Did it sneak up on you? When appreciation is part of your company culture EVERY day, employee engagement increases.
In today’s world, people want to be recognized for their contributions and know they are making an impact. This is why appreciation is one of the four core needs (F.A.I.R.) that leaders should meet to elevate employee engagement.
And, engaged employees are 45% more productive and more likely to stay within your organization.
The simplest act of showing appreciation (and no budget needed) involves 2 words: Thank You. This is a great start.
When I was a new manager (decades ago!), I thought I was showing appreciation by saying “Thanks for your hard work” when stopping by employees’ cubes or within their 1:1 meetings.
However, providing appreciation that is specific, sincere, and timely further elevates engagement levels because it shows how their contributions uniquely made an impact.
For example, did a team member go the extra mile and stay late for several days to meet a deadline that made a client happy? And now that client thinks your company is a rock star? Then, include these specific details instead of just thanking them for their hard work (like I first did!).
And why wait for an annual performance review to thank a team member? The present time where their contributions made an impact is the best time.
Acts of appreciation can be as simple as a text, e-card, or 5 minutes of your time to call/stop by. Other forms of recognition include gift cards, bringing in breakfast, or taking the team out to lunch.
Being thoughtful and intentional about acts of appreciation helps you to focus on other’s successes and be a more authentic, engaging leader.
How do you recognize and show appreciation within your organization?
To learn additional methods to increase your employee engagement, schedule a 30-minute complimentary strategy session HERE.
