Showing appreciation for employees in the workplace becomes the responsibility of every manager, group leader, supervisor, and executive. The power and influence of employee appreciation go beyond retaining talent and generate real-world consequences that directly impact every aspect of business. According to an expert resource, the business benefits of employee appreciation include:
- Inspiring loyalty and retaining top talent
- Increasing job satisfaction
- Improving employee engagement
- Boosting productivity
- Strengthening company culture
- Educating staff about the company’s core principles
- Generating greater profits
- Encouraging the best efforts and contributions of rank-and-file employees up the senior executive level
Many of the benefits of employee recognition include related events like improving the employee experience. Feeling valued at work is best expressed by actions and not just verbal recognition. Improving and streamlining the employee experience demonstrates clearly that a company values a healthy work-life balance. Employees often find work memories some of the most compelling and memorable of their life experiences, and satisfied and happy employees become the most active cheerleaders through social media sharing, recruiting top-level talent, and performing at peak work levels.
Building Better Connections with Employees
Modern human resources departments bear a lot of the responsibility of building stronger employee connections with supervisors, company administrators, executives, and even customers. One of the strongest methods of creating an appreciative work environment is empowering company leaders and managers to demonstrate appreciation in highly public ways. This includes recognizing outstanding contributions in team meetings, publicizing accomplishments on tote boards and company newsletters, offering performance incentives, and recognizing well-done work at every opportunity including simple, personal conversations.
Sponsoring recognition of performance accomplishments can include incentives, public announcements, group parties, or company-wide meetings. Holding highly;public employee recognition events increase positive company feelings, let people know what performance is expected or hoped for, and reduces attrition rates based on feeling unappreciated.
Recognition for a well-done job is one of the strongest motivators of better performance at all levels, not just for those being praised. It’s natural to work harder to receive praise next time, and taking the time to recognize and praise team members accomplishments creates better company leaders and promotes the workplace’s culture.