Do you have hard-working employees who never get the recognition they deserve? If so, you can use these seven tips to show your staff that you appreciate all of their efforts and hard work. When your employees feel appreciated, they’ll be more loyal and motivated in their work, resulting in higher levels of employee engagement.
But more importantly, it’s simply the right thing to do—thank your employees often! Here are 7 ways to make your employees feel appreciated in the workplace.
1. Start with Good Management
Make sure you are doing everything you can from an administrative perspective to ensure your team is happy and productive.
For example, we’ve previously discussed how effective management is critical for companies looking to retain talent, increase productivity, and keep employees engaged.
The truth is that while there are a number of perks that can go a long way toward making workers happy (i.e., free food or daycare), management is king when it comes to fostering a sense of camaraderie in an office environment.
Unfortunately, many leaders have yet to realize just how important they are in that regard—meaning they often end up undermining their own authority by taking advantage of or undervaluing their most valuable resource: people.
2. Keep Track of Employee Feedback
There’s a big difference between knowing that you have one employee and knowing how your 100 employees feel about their experience at work. If you don’t have time to listen in on every conversation, tracking survey feedback is an easy way to measure overall satisfaction in a non-intrusive way.
From there, you can start making changes that benefit everyone—both individually and as a team. A happy staff is a productive staff, so it pays off for everyone involved!
3. The Team is the Star
If there’s one thing that will boost employee morale faster than anything else, it’s praise from a manager. If you want to see your employees excel at their jobs and go above and beyond for customers, take a few minutes each day or week to acknowledge their contributions.
On team member’s birthdays, send a hand-written note—not just an email—with all of your team members present. This way, everyone knows that all of their efforts are important (and worth celebrating) at your company.
4. Recognize Employees for Non-Work Efforts
Employee recognition programs often focus on work-related tasks, like reaching a sales goal or completing an important project. While it’s important to recognize these achievements, encouraging managers and supervisors to think outside these parameters is necessary for businesses seeking long-term success.
Encourage managers and supervisors at all levels of your organization (who do not already) should encourage their team members by recognizing them for contributions that go beyond their day jobs.
For example, suggest they send a quick email or letter of praise after receiving exceptional customer service from one of their employees.
5. Encourage Cross-Training
When companies promote a strict business environment, they’re missing out on an opportunity.
Cross-training your team gives everyone insight into each other’s roles and responsibilities, which not only helps them feel more connected but also improves productivity.
When there’s a broader understanding of what’s expected from each member of the team, there’s less confusion about how their work fits into corporate goals. Make it a priority for every employee to participate in cross-training opportunities; you’ll be amazed at how much everyone learns from and appreciates one another.
6. Write Thank You Notes
If you don’t already send handwritten thank-you notes, now is a great time to start. This practice is one of those few things that are always better when done in person. Whenever possible, address and hand-write each thank-you note yourself.
Your team will appreciate seeing their contributions reflected in such a personal manner. A mass email just doesn’t cut it—and it also won’t inspire creativity like a well-written note (or phone call) might.
7. Hold an Annual Celebration
A great way to show appreciation for your employees is through a company holiday party or annual celebration. It’s also a good idea for anyone with equity in your company, like investors and founders.
If you don’t have that kind of budget, plan a monthly meet-up where people can network and share best practices.
Small group lunches are great for informal discussions about work-life balance and professional development. Workplace culture is one of the top reasons people leave their jobs, so be sure yours is healthy and positive—and celebrate it often!
Treat all of your workers with respect and recognition, no matter what position they have or how long they’ve been working for you.
The better you treat people—even if it’s just a simple thank-you or a heartfelt good job!—the more likely they are to stick around.
And that leads directly to an improved business environment: happy employees lead to great work and positive energy, which leads directly back into our bottom line.