You can tell your colleagues, co-workers, and employees how much you value them and their contribution any day of the year. Trust this. No occasion is necessary. In fact, small surprises and tokens of your appreciation spread throughout the year help the people in your workplace feel valued by you all year long.
Looking for ideas about how to praise and thank co-workers and employees? The opportunities are endless and limited only by your imagination.
Don’t reserve your appreciation for special occasions! Make it standard practice to thank employees regularly to let them know you care and promote their happiness at work. You can also get in tuned with what you appreciate from your co-workers at work. While every employee has different needs for appreciation, your own needs can serve you well as a starting point.
Here are ten ways to show your appreciation to employees and co-workers. Why don’t you go ahead and make their day?
1. Praise a job well done.
Identify the specific actions that you found admirable. This praise feels sincere since you took the time to spell out details and not just, “You did a good job.” You also emphasize the actions that you’d like to see the employee do more often and everybody benefits when people experience clear direction.
2. Say “thank you”.
Show your appreciation for their hard work and contributions. Also, don’t forget to say please often as well. Social niceties do belong at work. A more gracious, polite, civilized workplace is appreciated by all.
3. Learn your co-workers’ interests.
Questions and acknowledgments about their family, their hobby, their weekend or a special event they attended are always welcome. Your genuine interest as opposed to being nosey causes people to feel valued and cared about.
4. Offer flexible scheduling.
If work coverage is critical, post a calendar so people can balance their time off with that of their co-workers. (Note that a flexible work schedule is a benefit that employees desire all of the time.)
5. Present a personalized gift.
Know your co-worker’s interests well enough to present a small gift occasionally. An appreciated gift and the gesture of providing it will light up your co-worker’s day. A greeting card serves the same purpose. You can give a card for no reason at all, to celebrate a special day such as a birthday, or to offer sympathy when a co-worker is ill or experiences a family death.
6. Give financial incentives.
End of the year bonuses, attendance bonuses, quarterly bonuses, and gift certificates say “thank you” quite nicely.
7. Treat them to a meal.
Take co-workers or staff to lunch for a birthday, a special occasion or for no reason at all. Let your guest pick the restaurant. Another valuable option is you can order pizza or lunch from a caterer or a store that delivers. Schedule a brunch for a team that has met its current goals and over-delivers on its promised timeline.
8. Create a fun tradition.
It’s time to abandon the dullness that can come along with work. Be happy and make others happy. Do what feels appropriate for you and your workplace, and remember to keep in mind that as long as you are happy, you will be able to make others happy. And when that happens, everyone wins.
9. Bring in little surprises.
Offerings such as cookies or cupcakes, particularly anything that you’ve baked personally, are a huge hit! (Have you tried baking cupcakes in ice cream cones? People love them!) Another hit? Bring chocolate—chocolate anything.
10. Provide opportunity for advancement.
People want chances for training and cross-training. They want to participate in a special committee where their talents are noticed. They like to attend professional association meetings and represent your organization at civic and philanthropic events. Do you currently have only your executives attending these events? Spread the wealth of opportunity to all employees. They will genuinely appreciate the opportunities.
Showing appreciation to employees is never out-of-place. In fact, in many organizations, it’s often a scarce commodity. Make your workplace the exception. Use every opportunity to demonstrate your gratitude and appreciation to employees.
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