Hello Reader,
What's the big deal about appreciation? Do we really have to say thank you or great work to people for simply doing their job? What happened to intrinsic motivation? What about taking pride in your work? What about being grateful for the opportunity? Appreciation is like the adult version of the participation trophy that kids get in school. If everyone gets it, it kinda loses its meaning, right? Wrong!
Turns out most people aren’t looking for praise. They simply want to be heard. We’ve built workplaces full of performance reviews, shoutouts, and feedback tools — yet people still wonder “Do I actually matter here? Anybody could do this job. Nobody is irreplaceable”. As an HR professional I have conducted enough exit interviews to hear this sentiment often. And as an HR professional I can tell you that by the time I hear this statement it's already too late.
According to a recent study conducted by Gallup and Workhuman, well-recognized employees are 45% less likely to have turned over two years later. Let that number sit with you for a moment - 45%. I can't tell you how many times I have agonized over employee turnover stats while trying to come up with retention strategies. Yes it's true that no one is irreplaceable, but any time an employee feels expendable I can tell you that you've got a morale problem in your team.
Hiring employees is costly - both in terms of time and money. Replacing them is even more expensive. There is a business case for recognizing and appreciating people and building a culture that lets employees know that they are valued team members. Why don't we do it? Or how can we do better? Appreciation can take many forms, but appreciation alone is not going to fix systemic problems in your workplace. But a few kind words, a pat on the back, a reassuring vote of confidence can go a long way towards boosting morale and building goodwill with your team.
If you would like the detailed Gallup report you can download it here. Some really good insights in there.
"When people feel their best, when they’re part of a community. When they have social support, when they feel seen, heard, appreciated, and valued, they thrive — and the businesses they
work for thrive as well."
Meisha-Ann Martin, Ph.D, Workhuman senior director, people analytics and research
Building a culture of appreciation
Does appreciation look the same to everyone? Some people respond to company-wide emails acknowledging their efforts, while others cringe at the public recognition. There are team members who would love to be invited for a one-on-one coffee/meal while others prefer a more hands off approach. And for some people talk is cheap; appreciation is measured by the size of the year-end bonus check.
As a leader a big part of your job is to figure out what motivates your team, and how to flex all the tools at your disposal. In some cases, like monetary compensation, you may not really have a lot of say. But there are other ways in which you can empathize with your team, and encourage and support them. It doesn't matter what form your appreciation takes, as long as it's authentic, consistent, and fair.
It's fitting that this newsletter is going out today, just in time for International Worker's Day, or Labour Day as it's called in many parts of the world. Now I'll be the first one to tell you that we don't need a designated day to appreciate someone. But perhaps the day could serve as a reminder that your sincere words could be the boost that someone needs today. So go ahead, make their day. Give them a compliment. Listen to their concerns. Praise their efforts. Recognize their contribution. Appreciate.
In case you missed our posts on appreciation you can click below to read them.
- Appreciation is crucial for building a thriving company culture (click here)
- The subtle art of appreciation in the workplace (click here)
- Generosity is appreciation in action (click here)
- Delegation is an overlooked form of appreciation (click here)
Click below to download this month's worksheet.
One last thought...
Sometimes we don't say the words because we don't know what to say. Other times we hesitate because we don't know how to say. What matters is that we say it. Out loud. In public, or in private. You don't need pretty words. You don't need perfect timing. You don't need grand gestures. All you need is the intention to appreciate, and the follow-up action.
I can't wrap up a newsletter about appreciation without recognizing this community. THANK YOU for all your likes, comments and reposts on my LinkedIn page and I'm so grateful for all the DMs on WhatsApp. I read each and every comment, and your support and encouragement definitely make my day, every day.
Appreciatively,
Anjani
