Rene’ Johnston-Gingrich
As this comes to a close and we usher a new year in, we tend to reflect and consider all that we have to be grateful for and what we can improve upon in the future. This is true in our personal lives as well as our professional lives.
It is likely that we have just closed the chapter that involved putting together holiday parties, selecting gifts and handing out bonuses to recognize the contributions of our employees and team members. For many organizations, these are wonderful time-honored traditions but start of a new year is a great time to consider whether we are showing our appreciation all year around.
Statistics show that the number one reason an employee will leave his or her job has nothing to do with salary or vacation pay but rather whether or not they feel appreciated. All of us have baseline needs that have to be met, but beyond that we also have a need to be recognized for our hard work and the contributions that we are making. Showing appreciation is vital to retaining valuable employees. Although it is a great start, there is much more to showing appreciation than a simple “Thank you”.
How do we show appreciation? The basic idea is to simply say “Thank you”, but there are ways to be sure that the way we choose to show our appreciation resonates with the employee receiving it. It takes time and effort, but getting to know what motivates and is meaningful to each employee will result in happier more productive, loyal employees.
What type of recognition is going to be most meaningful? Below are just a few ways to express appreciation to employees and associates.
Monetary Rewards. We would be hard pressed to find someone who did not appreciate a financial reward for a job well done. If you choose this method however, it is best accompanied with a quick note of thanks. Cash alone can come across as cold or impersonal.
Public Recognition. Maybe the employee would respond to some type of award or public recognition. Consider organizing an event centered on employee appreciation or perhaps just recognize the employee(s) within the company.
Gifts. Gifts are a great way to show appreciation. The important thing to consider is to give a gift that is individualized and not just a generic offering that the employee might be tempted to re-gift. Choose gifts that reflect employee needs and interests.
Verbal Recognition. This is the simplest and most cost-effective way to show appreciation. Take a minute, sit down with the employee and use specific examples to individualize any praise that is delivered.
These are some basic means of showing appreciation and recognizing employee efforts. However, remember that delivering employee thanks can be as imaginative as you want to make it.
Employee recognition takes time and effort. In order to ensure the best possible use of this opportunity, it is best to have some type of plan in place–a system for recognizing employees. It is essential to demonstrate appreciation all year around and not just at the holidays. Employees that feel appreciated are not only more likely to be long-term employees but are happier and less likely to feel general dissatisfaction that might result in interpersonal conflicts and interoffice resentments. Feeling appreciated will help team members feel more positive about their involvement in the workplace and therefore are more likely to strive to better their contributions.
