By Mary E. Corrado, courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASE
I recently read an article on Entrepreneur.com that listed several ways to show employees they are appreciated. Articles like these are always a good reminder, so I wanted to share some of the tips with you.
1. Thank employees verbally. It just takes a few seconds to say, “Great job.” It’s amazing how just a little compliment or thank you can make someone’s day.
2. Give a written thank-you note. While handwritten notes are not as common as they used to be, they really do stand out and show that you took the time to write a thank-you. At the end of each year, I write each employee a personally hand-written note thanking them for the efforts they made over the past year.
3. Give small rewards. Not all monetary rewards have to be large. Something as simple as a $10 gift card can go a long way for showing your appreciation.
4. Send a group email. Sometime a larger thank you is in order. Showing employee appreciation publicly acknowledges their achievement and allows their peers to also thank them. I have asked my team to send me all complimentary emails, and I read them aloud at our monthly staff meetings.
5. Assign larger tasks. Another way of expressing appreciation and trust in your employees is to offer them increasingly high-profile projects. Let them know that they are being given these projects because of what a great job they’ve done in the past.
6. Make praise specific. When you give praise, point out specific examples. It makes it much more sincere to pinpoint what exactly they did on a project that made a difference versus a more generic statement. It shows the employee that you really did take notice.
7. Check in regularly. Be sure to check in with employees regularly. Ask them how they are doing. Is there any area where they need assistance from management? This will make employees feel valued.
While many of these seem obvious, it’s a good reminder for any manager. The more employees feel valued and appreciated, the more willing they are to work harder. When given praise for a job well-done, that employee will work even harder the next time. However, if the work goes unnoticed, they might not put forth the same effort in the future.