Creating a culture of appreciation
Appreciation - knowing that what we do matters to those around us - is a basic human need. Yet in the workplace, we are often stingy with our recognition of employees. Perhaps we don't want to dole out too much praise for fear of looking soft and having low standards or we don't want to be branded as having favorites or perhaps we are just hard-pressed to find the time. Whatever the reason may be, I would argue that in most offices, we don't do it enough.
Creating a culture of recognition and appreciation not only makes our workplace happier (when was the last time you were in a foul mood after someone paid you a heartfelt compliment and genuinely appreciated you?), but it is also a competitive advantage:
A paycheck is no longer the ultimate motivator. In the words of the esteemed Dale Carnegie “people work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise and rewards.”
Gives employees clarity of what they are doing well, especially in the beginning when they are new to a role
Makes it easier to digest critical, hard feedback
Allows trust to develop between an employee and the manager and amongst team members
Inspires loyalty and boosts employee retention
Here are some ideas of how to recognize your employees:
Additional paid time off
Handwritten note
Flowers or gift basket
Donation to charity of their choice
Lunch with their leader at a fancy restaurant
Appreciation jar - peers drop in notes praising team members that are read out loud during a staff meeting
Gift card of their choice
Some do's and don'ts:
Do make sure that the recognition is genuine and meaningful. Trite gestures and token gifts will backfire
Don't play favorites. Not only will your team catch on quickly, it is also unethical
Do customize your appreciation based on what would resonate and mean the most to your employee
Do show your appreciation in real time, as much as possible
Don't give flashy or expensive gifts or put your employees in any uncomfortable situations ("Friday night dinner and drinks" may seem innocuous to you and a fun way to appreciate an employee, but they may be wondering, "is my boss hitting on me?")
I'll leave you with a short video in which Oprah, who has become a master at knowing people, talks about how all of us - from heads of state to felons to celebrities - share a common need to be seen, to be heard, and to know that we matter.