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The Thanksgiving holiday reminds us to be grateful for everything that enriches our lives. When you’re caught up in daily management tasks, however, it’s easy to forget how much you appreciate your coworkers and employees, and it’s easy to underestimate how much it would help to show more gratitude. When you show your staff you’re aware of — and grateful for — their contributions, you build a sense of shared purpose and strengthen the connection they feel to you and to the business. Here are a few employee recognition ideas to let your employees know you’re thankful for their efforts:
Go out for a coffee chat
Appreciation comes in many forms, but one of the most potent is to show genuine human interest in your workers. They are used to meeting with you for task-related purposes, but they may not know the real you. You can create an entirely different experience by inviting them to join you one-on-one for coffee. Show interest in your employee during that meeting, just as you would in any person whose company you enjoy. These special visits will not only make employees feel that they matter to you, but the conversation may also alert you to any personal stresses the worker encounters. Don’t come across as intrusive, though; keep the interaction friendly and encouraging.
Let them hand off a task
No matter how satisfying someone’s job duties are, a few small tasks will feel like drudgery. American Express suggests you can show your appreciation by letting your employees “ditch” one (small) project they dislike, while you step in to do the work instead. This will provide your workers with a strong sense of solidarity and a little extra breathing room to focus on other tasks. Is there a perk for you? You bet! You may gain fresh awareness of operational areas you haven’t personally handled lately, leading you to a better understanding of how your employees are spending their time.
Offer pleasant surprises
Even the most sophisticated person never outgrows that childhood fondness for pleasant surprises. An employee appreciation survey by Glassdoor found that when “…employees want to feel appreciated by their employer, nearly half say unexpected treats and rewards are great ways.” These rewards can take various forms, and they don’t need to be large to elicit delight and convey gratitude.
Thanksgiving brings a valuable reminder of the power of rewards and recognition, but these interactions shouldn’t be limited to one season of the year. To keep your employees engaged and productive, find ways to let them know year-round that you are grateful for their efforts.
To learn more about how give thanks to your employees, access our e-book, “The Power of Employee Appreciation.”
