5 Ways to Show Employee Appreciation

Provide a platform.  Give employees an opportunity to provide feedback, share ideas or make suggestions.  You don’t have to wait for an annual or quarterly review.  Managers can start collecting feedback in everyday conversations.  Simply asking for suggestions or ideas in team meetings or having an open discussion allows employees to feel like their opinions and ideas matter.

Encourage employee development.  Nobody likes to get stuck in a routine where they feel stagnant in their role.  When employees feel stuck in a routine and stop learning, their enthusiasm can take a dive. A 2012 study by the American Psychological Association showed that employees who do not feel valued are significantly more likely to seek new employment within 12 months (50 percent vs. 21 percent).

Focus on skills that can help individual employees to grow.  Sit down and discuss  1-2 goals he or she would like to work on over the next few months. This might mean obtaining a certification in their field, being cross-trained in a different department or area or finding a mentor. Set smart, achievable goals that make an impact on their professional development.

Surprise treats.  Brighten up an employees’ day by bringing breakfast in for your team or spend some time out of the office for a team lunch.  Even small break-room chats with your employees gives you an opportunity to learn more about them.  Building these types of relationships can have an impact on employee motivation.

Celebrate.  There’s always a reason to celebrate!  Add some fun to the office by celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, milestones, etc.   Purchase a cake once a month and celebrate employees who had a birthday that month, send a hand-written card for an employee’s anniversary or play Secret Santa with your staff during the holidays.  Bringing employees and managers together grows a culture of teamwork.

Recognize achievements.  Simply recognizing an employee’s achievements go a long way.  Employees feel valued are significantly more likely to be motivated to do their very best.   Learn what types of recognition motivates your employees.  Is it monetary non-monetary?  Recognition can be delivered multiple ways and should occur often.  Take the time to say “thank you” or “great job”.  Recognition coming from management is a very important motivator.  Employees who reported being motivated in the workplace also said they are more likely to recommend their workplace to others (85 percent vs. 19 percent).

Source: http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/03/well-being.aspx