Everyone wants to know they are appreciated at work. A simple thank you from a customer, colleague or your boss can really boost your day!
As a manager, a critical part of your job is to guide, coach and inspire your team. Most managers will easily acknowledge a job well done. Everyone wants to be part of a positive outcome. But what about the situations that don’t work out? If an employee is working extra hard to make a sale, solve a problem, or give above and beyond service, acknowledging their effort, even when things go wrong, can make a real difference to their motivation.
Feeling appreciated, needed and valued at work contributes to employee satisfaction and engagement. People work harder when they know they will be recognized for their efforts and accomplishments.
Words of encouragement are free, so use them often. Below are a few tips on how to show appreciation at work:
- Be sincere in your praise
- Look the person in the eyes
- Use their name
- Don’t wait for year end, offer appreciation through-out the year as events happen
- For special situations, offer appreciation in a group setting such as a meeting
- Consider using a hand-written note
- Don’t forget to notice the small efforts – like the person who comes in early to shovel and salt the walkway, cleans out the fridge or offers to wash the coffee mugs
- Be on the look out for ways to offer appreciation at work
