Leadership Tip: Show Employees Appreciation in Word and Deeds

by On Point Promotions | December 24, 2018

Your life as a business owner or manager is F-U-L-L and everyone knows it. Your responsibilities reach out over many different areas and you feel the pressure to do a good job in each and every one of them. That is exactly why your employees matter so much for you. When you surround yourself with people who get along with others, are reliable, honest, and hardworking, nothing is more important.

That being said, did you know that the No. 1 reason, according to How Full is Your Bucket, that American workers leave their jobs is because they don’t feel appreciated? Yikes! It is probably easy to believe that that lack of appreciation from employers can often be attributed to not showing appreciation rather than not feeling appreciation.

Saying thank you is fast, easy, and always appreciated. Acknowledge good work, on-going reliable efforts, as well as special efforts regularly. Getting mentioned in a gathering is one way that brightens someone’s day.

Make certain occasions a habit of appreciation. When routines get built into the work schedule, and are sincere, they become memorable moments for employees and employers as well. For instance:

• Welcome new employees warmly with a swag bag! Include branded items such as a company mug, pens, sweet treats and postcards that are signed by their new co-workers. It’s a great way to bring someone into the fold and open up channels of communications with peers.
• Also, when a new employee joins the team, send out an introductory email with some information about them that is both professional and personal. Explain their duties and responsibilities and be sure to include a photo so the name and face gets connected around the company.

• Birthdays. Even if they don’t want their age broadcast, most employees appreciate being recognized on their birthdays. If you are the kind that doesn’t like to interrupt work with big cakes and songs, there are many other ways to celebrate team members. Some employers might offer a day off, or a half day off. Others might simply leave a branded pencil cup on their desk filled with a selection of teas.
• Work anniversaries. Days may seem long sometimes, but they have a tendency to flow into years that pass quickly. Each anniversary can be celebrated with an announcement through email or overhead speaker, and accompanied with a gift – perhaps a designated item for each year. For example, year one could be a portfolio, desk frame, or a hoodie – all branded, of course. Sincere, written notes of appreciation from a supervisor or even the CEO only add to the warm feelings.

Awards and recognition programs

Just like in baseball, when runs are scored, the crowd cheers. When employees reach or exceed goals, their work crowd should cheer for them. Likewise, when the team wins a game, and makes strides to reach a greater goal, something should happen that encourages them to push forward to win the next game or reach the next level.

Different companies have different cultures. For some, being the team to have possession of the Rubber Chicken Award on the last Friday of the month (for whatever achievement is set up) is a thrill. For others, it is something more personal and engraved that they can keep.

Employee recognition, motivation, and incentive programs work best when they are customized to the particular company. Here at On Point Promotions and Embroidery, we have extensive experience in developing programs that work, helping to keep employees happy and employers on budget.

When employee appreciation is thoughtfully considered and approached like other important elements of your business, you will reap the benefits of long-term employees who are dedicated to doing their best for you and your business. Give us a call at 317-762-4309 to talk about how we can help you make that happen.