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The importance of appreciation

How to make employee appreciation more meaningful

Building a culture of appreciation should be one of the core elements of any ‘people strategy’, especially now, as most workforces have become more global and dispersed.

Why is appreciation important?

• Leads to higher-performing teams

  Appreciation acts as a positive reinforcer for people, and when they receive regular appreciation for their efforts, people feel more inclined to continue to go above and beyond as they know their efforts won't go unnoticed.

• Positively affects culture and office atmosphere

  Celebrating people’s wins and showing appreciation creates a positive culture and office atmosphere where people want to work.

• Increases tenure

  When people feel appreciated, they are much more unlikely to look for a position elsewhere. In a candidate-driven market, doing anything to increase tenure is not only good for your culture but also your bank balance.

What types of behaviour should business organisations recognise?

Stepping up as a leader

Leadership is not reserved for those with the title. There are many forms of leadership, including leading, mentoring, and guiding, all of which should be recognised and appreciated. When genuine efforts are noticed and celebrated, it can be powerful and encouraging.

The ability to improve and progress

Any efforts to improve, progress, or learn from mistakes need to be recognised and appreciated. It highlights the ability to grow – something which is something not everyone can do.

Being inclusive

Diversity drives innovation, and to drive performance, practise creativity and create a better culture, people need to consider diversity when creating new ideas. When people proactively consider different perspectives and appreciate diverse backgrounds, it should be celebrated.

Charity work

If an employee does some volunteer work, whether it’s with your company or down to their initiative, it’s something you should recognise and support. Encourage their colleagues to support them, too, by donating towards their cause. Feature them in your internal communications, such as newsletters, to help build morale and improve employee relations.

Confident and assertive honesty

Being vocal and honest about thoughts is not always an easy thing to do when you’re not in a senior position. If your employees are using straightforward, honest, and confident communication with you and their teams, it’s something to appreciate and acknowledge. Promoting this type of communication leads to increased confidence, encouraging people to be more open about their thoughts in the future. Open communication helps continuous improvement and helps business achieve their goals.

An independent work ethic

Not everyone is a self-starter. However, those who have a strong independent work ethic and take the initiative to get things done without asking should be celebrated. Not only do these people get the job done, but they save you money when it comes to managers' investment of time. Self-starters are typically organised and finalised deliverables before they are requested. Don’t forget to take the time to appreciate these people – if you don’t, they’re likely to find another company that will.

Taking the time to help their team

Employees who go above and beyond to help, educate, support and motivate their co-workers need to be recognised and rewarded. Teamwork requires passionate and selfless employees who care about the results. In a competitive environment, especially, team spirit can often lack team morale; however, by recognising team players, you can encourage and foster a community of helpfulness and caring. Business can only work successfully when people work together.