The ugly fact is that most employees and subordinates don’t feel valued or properly acknowledged. Appreciation (or the lack thereof) can make or break a day. All that is required is your desire to put it into words.
Showing your subordinates and team that you value them and their work may boost morale and motivation significantly. Here are some other methods for showing employees gratitude and making them feel valued at work.
Small Rewards
You can show your appreciation in many ways: give coworkers something as simple as a bouquet of flowers or even find gifts online. It may be a Starbucks or Target gift card. It’s not so much about how much you spend on a present as it is about how significant it is. The perceived value is significantly higher.
Verbal Thanks
Thanking employees verbally for hard work, achievements, or when they go above and beyond what is required is a simple practice. “Way to go, Rachael!” can go a long way toward improving morale. There’s no excuse for stating you don’t have time or are too busy because it only takes a few seconds.
Written Thanks
It makes a significant impression when you take time out of your hectic day to send a handwritten message (rather than an email). When I was a corporate executive, I used to do this, and individuals would frequently display my letter on their office wall, signaling how meaningful it was to them.
Thank Them Publicly
Send a group email or thank them in front of everyone on the team in the next meeting—including important leaders—when someone does something extraordinary. Discuss the accomplishment and appreciate the employee for their efforts. This not only demonstrates that you care about them, but it also helps them to be recognized by their peers.
Opportunities
Give an employee an opportunity to show them how thankful you are for their work. Send them to a training program you know they’ll enjoy or give them extra work responsibilities if that’s what they want. When it comes to expressing gratitude, the most important thing to remember is to make it personal.
Assigning someone to a high-profile project shows trust in their talents, and trust is a terrific approach to demonstrating appreciation. This also allows them to have a better profile inside the organization. Make it clear that you choose them because of your admiration for their excellent work.
Find Out What They Want
Meet with your employees regularly to learn about their short-, mid-, and long-term objectives. Tell them that, as their boss, you want to assist them in achieving their objectives. They will value your dedication to their accomplishments.
Finally, Be Specific
If you’re going to express gratitude to team members, make sure you tell them exactly what you appreciate. Don’t just tell them that they have done a good job. Instead, tell them how proud you are of their effort and what they accomplished to impress you. This positive reinforcement makes them want to do the same thing again.