Editor’s Note: Even though this article was originally published last fall, we wanted to share these tips with you again. Enjoy!
Showing Your Employees Appreciation Positively Impacts The Workplace
It’s normal to feel burned out from time to time. It happens to the best of us. But rather than allowing your staff to linger in a rut, it’s actually best to take action and confront the issue head on. Fortunately, this isn’t one of those “drastic times call for drastic measures” scenarios. Have you ever heard the saying that the best solutions are often the easiest? Well, when it comes to improving productivity and morale, there’s a really simple solution that yields incredible results.
Read Also: The Secrets To Developing Engaged Workers
Appreciation Has An Impact
If you are looking to make have a positive impact on your staff, consider the benefits of frequent and ongoing recognition and demonstrations of appreciation. You might be surprised to learn that such an easy gesture can have a substantial impact on your organization’s bottom line. For example, something as simple as acknowledging the work someone is doing for the organization can increase engagement and studies show that improved engagement reduces turnover. Organizations that emphasize employee recognition in the workplace see a 20 percent reduction in turnover compared to those that don’t. And the cost of employee turnover can be substantial.
Motivation Is Key
When your staff believes their work isn’t being recognized or appreciated, motivation suffers. When people lose their motivation for their work, productivity and profitability are negatively impacted. That said, while the concept may sound simple enough, there’s still a lot to consider.
For example, from music preferences and movie genres to whether someone is more productive in the morning versus afternoon and every characteristic in between – people are different. The same will be true with regard to how they prefer to be recognized and shown appreciation. Fortunately, when it comes to employee recognition, you are really only limited by your imagination.
Here are a few examples on how you can motivate the people in your workplace:
- Public Kuddos – Taking the time to publicly recognize an employee’s achievements can be a rewarding experience for the person being recognized while motivating others to step it up in the hopes of being recognized in the future. Sometimes, something as simple as saying, “Hey Brenda, great job on that report,” can be the difference between a good employee staying or going.
- Sense Of Belonging – Linking your employees’ performance to your business’s mission and values creates a healthy inclusive culture. Highlighting appreciation from one individual to another strengthens unity in the workplace.
- Shared Experiences – When your staff feel connected to the organization and to each other, they are more likely to invest and engage on a deeper level with the organization and each other. Organizing social events that highlight major happenings around the workplace is a great way to improve relationships and camaraderie.
- Awards – This tried and true method of awarding individuals for their accomplishments positively impacts workplace motivation. Awards result in tangible recognition that drives motivation at all levels of the organization.
Don’t Just Go Through The Motions
Finally, and probably most importantly, don’t just pass out recognition for the sake of reaping the benefits of the practice. Recognition and appreciation must be given in a way that is genuine. Failure to be genuine can actually hurt the organization more than if you were to do nothing at all. The people who work for you and alongside you can spot a fake compliment or disingenuous show of appreciation from a mile away. Therefore, if you are going to talk to talk, be prepared to walk the walk.
Showing authentic appreciation and recognition for the hard work your staff puts in every day is a key factor for success. You already know that your entity’s greatest asset are the people on the front lines – your employees. Why not tell them how great they are once in awhile!
by Anita Martin, CPA (Medina office)
Want to learn more about employee satisfaction and retention? Take a look at these articles:
Podcast | The Value Of An Employee Appreciation Culture