I've spent years building a company that helps businesses engage with their employees. Times have changed from when people worked for whichever company provided the biggest paycheck: Now, many factors play into where the best employees choose to work — one of them being employee appreciation. In today’s workforce, being appreciated goes a lot further than the dollar amount on their pay stub. Showing appreciation to your employees will only make your organization a better environment to work in, and it will enable it to grow.
With this in mind, we have created a few of tips you can follow to build a culture where your employees will feel recognized and appreciated. With just a little dedication to those you surround yourself with at your workplace, you can expect they will pay it forward and make it worth your effort.
If You See Something You Like, Say It
This doesn’t have to be constant, but if you see an employee going above and beyond, thank them. Say how much you appreciate their work and how it’s not going unnoticed. You may think this is unnecessary and it “goes without saying” because they know what they’re doing is good, but trust us, a little positive re-enforcement is always a good thing. Not to mention, this may cause some friendly competition within the workplace -- which I have experienced firsthand to help drive innovation and collaboration.
Change Up The Day
Have your employees been working extra hours? Is the office growing a bit too quiet? Has that electricity in the air faded to a soft buzz? Maybe it’s time to hold off on the next assignment. Understand that we all have our limits and sometimes, we need a change. If you feel like your team is slowing down, why not go for a group walk outdoors to get everyone’s blood flowing and change up the day? Some fresh air never hurt anyone, including you.
Personalize Your Gifts
When it comes time for the holidays or a birthday, if your organization permits gifts to your employees, make it personal. You may not have time to go out and personally shop for each employee (although they’d love that), but even if you give them the same gift card to the same department store you give them every year, include a personalized card that’s specific to them. Or, if it’s their birthday and you’re getting them a cake, do a little investigating, because although the gesture is sweet, it comes with an eye roll if they hate carrot cake and that’s what you give them every year.
Be Open To Growth
No one goes into a job with the hope of staying in that position forever, but we do go in with different goals in mind. Take the time to sit down with each of your employees, assess where they hope to end up in the long run, and then attempt to put them in positions to succeed in getting there. There’s nothing better than a happy, home-grown team you’ve trained as they've worked their way up the ranks. If your employees don’t feel appreciate your company culture will hurt your business’ ability to grow.
Be Transparent
You don’t want to work where people are talking behind everyone’s backs and trying to get to the bottom of what’s really happening in the company. Be upfront with what is going on. Make your team feel like a family. If you’re open and honest with your employees, in turn, they will trust you and will feel like equals, no matter their position on the ladder.
Give More Responsibility
If you want to empower your employees, hand them a little more responsibility. Let them make important decisions in regard to the company. It’ll build your team members' confidence when you recognize and trust their expertise.
Take Them Out for Coffee
When was the last time you invited someone from your staff to coffee? Make a habit of taking someone new each week to grab a cup of joe. Take a few minutes to sit and chat with them and non-work related topics. Have they seen any good movies? How long have they lived in town for? Do they have any recommendations for good restaurants? Leveling the playing field will help them realize they aren’t just an employee.
Don’t be a company with a “punch-in, punch-out” mentality. You have to grow to become the company that people will stick by in times of crisis, not the business people dream of leaving. If you harvest an environment that makes employees feel appreciated, you may find it makes your job easier in the long haul. And they'll come to appreciate you more, too.
