Whether they work for you or with you, everyone wants to feel appreciated for what they do. But some things work better than others to show that.
It’s needed now more than ever: Just 53% of employees feel appreciated at work. That’s according to a recent survey by AttaCoin, a maker of employee recognition gifts.
The good news is, this survey also uncovered how folks prefer their pats on the back … and some of them may surprise even veteran leaders.
How many of these do you do on the regular?
Check out the three best ways you can show your appreciation at work today:
- Praise … but keep it private. Few people (if any) don’t want to hear they’re doing a good job – but be careful of how and where you tell them. Many people feel uncomfortable being praised in a group setting. You’re better off pulling that person aside to tell them in a one-on-one setting. Bonus: That helps build the personal connection too. But remember to keep your praise specific. “You did such a great job handling that angry customer on the phone with patience and professionalism” is exponentially better than a generic “Keep up the good work!”
- Consider a rewards program. It doesn’t have to be anything major or expensive. Even the ability to leave work an hour early on a Friday can be a great way to recognize someone’s efforts. With these kinds of things it’s better to offer smaller “prizes” that are easier to attain along the way than a long drawn-out road to one big payoff.
- Save your budget dollars. You might feel like most folks are doing it for the money, but the majority (64%) would rather have verbal recognition than financial. You have no shortage of ways to do that. Of course an in-person thank you works, but think about mixing it up a bit too, from a sticky note left on their computer to a formal thank you added to their performance file.
Info: For the complete AttaCoin survey, go to http://www.attacoin.com/blogs/news/only-53-of-us-employees-feel-appreciated
