Employee engagement is an emerging culture that will continue as long as humans seek acceptance. Until organizations are managed by robots, your employees’ feelings will be as much, if not more, motivation as their paychecks.
The Connection Between Appreciation and Employee Engagement
Everyone has feelings, no matter how hard they try to drive down their emotions. Your employees may not care if they are liked, but they do want to feel appreciated.
For many employees, their careers are driven by blood, sweat, and tears in order to achieve organizational successes and exceed expectations. Earning them a role further up the executive ladder.
The overarching goal of employee engagement isn’t for your employees to be constantly commended for their organizational contributions, but that their sacrifices and dedicated work ethic are understood and valued.
Appreciation Breeds Appreciation
Appreciation is a two-way street, and it's not feasible to expect appreciation from your employees if they're working in a company culture that doesn't include mutual appreciation. It's important to know that appreciation goes much further than just being thankful; it's about instilling trust, teamwork, and a respect for the individual contributions it takes to build a high-performance team.
5 Tips to Create a Culture of Appreciation
Creating a Culture of Appreciation starts at the top, and begins with you. As an executive or managerial leader, you truly set the tone for your employees and shape how they face each new workday. Showing appreciation and a genuine concern for your employees positively reinforces their dedication to best serve your organization.
As you prepare to boost the Culture of Appreciation within your organization, consider folding in the following assets to appreciation:
1. STAY UP-TO-DATE ON EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES
Due to our fast-paced culture, the evolution of business and managerial best practices changes daily. Make it a habit to set aside time each day to explore resources and tips to make the most out of employee engagement and employee appreciation.
Here’s a list of resources that you may find useful:
- How Can My Company Improve Employee Engagement?
- Recognition Professionals International
- Incentive Marketing Association
2. MAKE EMPLOYEE GIFTING PERSONAL
Make a personal effort to create a connection between gifting and your employees to show that there is a team that stands behind them and appreciates their efforts.
You can also hand-write a note to an employee thanking them for their efforts. Hand-written thank you notes are increasingly rare, yet provide a tremendous dose of employee appreciation.
3. NOTICE & COMMEND YOUR EMPLOYEE’S EFFORTS
Don't be afraid to give compliments to your employees. If you see an employee go beyond the call of duty, share your appreciation for his or her efforts. You can also take it a step further and tell their direct supervisor, or commend their efforts at your next company-wide meeting. A pat on the back can transform your employee's outlook, personally and professionally.
4. BE MINDFUL OF YOUR EMPLOYEE'S STRESS LEVELS
Watch your employee's workload and stress levels. If you notice that an employee is overwhelmed, take them time to ask them what you can do to help or what resources can be shifted to help them execute their tasks.
By noticing the pressure they're under and making a genuine effort to help, you'll not only ensure that tasks are completed in an effective and efficient manner, you'll also create a necessary bridge to trust and appreciation.
5. MENTOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR WORKFORCE
Take the time to mentor your employees and give them the tools they need to succeed within your organization. Not only are you grooming the future of our country's workforce, you're potentially grooming the future leadership team of your organization.
Achieving professional success takes initiative and dedication; sharing expertise with employees allows them the confidence and know-how to build their skill set to breed success.
By creating a Culture of Appreciation, you'll not only give appreciation, but also receive it. All while encouraging mutual respect within your organization. When there is alignment between expectations and a positive company culture, there is no limit to the goals your organization can achieve!
At C.A. Short Company, we are your partner for increased employee engagement resulting in increased performance outcomes to grow your bottom line. Our process and research-based platform help you engage your team in order to increase your bottom line, motivate your staff to the benefit of the entire organization, and reward your people for the positive changes they make. To request a Complimentary Consultation, please click here.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on September 23, 2015 and has been recently updated.