The difference between bare minimum employees and hard workers who display passion for their career and company lies in the hands of the boss. That’s right, the quality of work done by your employees is all dependent upon how you show them your appreciation for a job well done.
A simple “good job” or “thank you” doesn’t exactly cut it, though. Employees want to be recognized for their achievements, appreciated for the hours they put into your company and encouraged to keep doing their best. Try out these creative ideas to show employee appreciation.
Let Your Employees Pick Their Rewards
Put the power of recognition and reward in your employee’s hands. Not everyone likes tickets to the Lakers, but a particular employee may want a Wear Saga coat for their skiing adventures. Letting them pick their reward is a much better incentive than simply choosing a prize for them. Make sure to pick a maximum dollar amount to keep things fair.
Offer Them a Sharing Platform
By asking your employees if they would like to share their work, it provides the validation that they have something of value to offer your company while boosting their self-confidence and self-esteem. You could do this through an organized team event, award ceremony, newsletter or online platform.
Allow Them to Make Important Decisions
Let your staff make decisions that matter, ones that can impact the company. This shows them you trust their opinion and professional expertise, and goes a lot farther than a bonus or perk in terms of appreciation. Plus, their major contribution to the business makes them want to invest the time and work necessary to get the job done right.
Little Surprises Mean a Lot
Unexpected surprises can make a world of difference during a tough week or after reaching a company goal. You could treat them to a group lunch or a shortened work day. Things like team building challenges on example excel time sheets and paying for courses that would further their development within your company are also excellent rewards, though a little less surprising.
Make Your Appreciation Specific
Bosses need to be specific when expressing appreciation in a way that reinforces behaviors through positive feedback. This is where simply saying “great job” falls short. Instead, try something like, “That was impressive how you handled all of those assignments at once, you’re an excellent multitasker.” When the boss is specific, it adds meaning to the compliment while inspiring the employee to further develop a particular skill.
When in Doubt, Food Works Fine
Every once in awhile, reward your staff with some free food. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. Surprise pizza in the breakroom, a doughnut on their desks in the morning or a catered lunch are all excellent ways to show your appreciation without having to say a word.
Listen to Their Feedback
Being heard is important in any work environment. It lets employees know that their opinions matter, gives them the chance to express concerns, and allows them to offer ways in which your company can succeed.
Distribute a survey that allows them to give anonymous feedback. What do they love about the company? What could be improved? Do they feel they have grown in their career and do they feel a strong sense of teamwork with their peers?
This allows you to address issues promptly, know which appreciation tactics worked best and what areas of your company could use some fine tuning. Maybe certain individuals simply work better with others, or perhaps the last catering service wasn’t as delicious as you all hoped it would be. Use this valuable information to help your business thrive.
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