The Importance of Gratitude in the Workplace and 3 Easy Ways to Show It

As the holiday season rolls around again, you may be thinking about all the things you’re thankful for. Have you brought that attitude of appreciation into the office? Gratitude in the workplace is essential, and not just during the holidays. The acknowledgement you give your employees can go a long way. Don’t be afraid to praise your employees for the successes, both big and small.

Here, we discuss 3 easy and effective ways to show gratitude to your employees:

1. Words of Affirmation

Studies have found saying ‘thank you’ to employees boosts their morale, increases their job satisfaction, and creates an overall healthy, positive culture. Whether you want to say it face-to-face, put it down on paper, or send it via email, make sure you regularly thank your employees for all that they do for the company. Employees are so pleased to receive a note or email from their boss thanking them for a job well done.

2. Gift Giving

From points-based incentives to performance-based incentives, employee of the month to suggestions of improvement, giving employees a gift to thank them for their outstanding efforts is a great way to boost motivation, satisfaction, and positivity in the workplace.

The type of gifts employees appreciate include gift cards, opportunities to upskill (training programs or courses), or something that caters to their interests (event tickets like concerts or art exhibitions, restaurant vouchers, a book you had discussed with them, etc.).

3. Quality Time

Managers and employees spend a lot of time together in the workplace – be it in team meetings, over a cup of coffee in the kitchen, at social events, etc. but in most cases, these meetings are just by chance. Communication between managers and employees is important – employees want regular meetings for performance reviews or to be updated on important business matters; communication like this is what makes them feel valued in the workplace.

Regularly schedule ‘quality time’ with your employees. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss their performance and career path, find out if there are any areas in the business they would like to upskill in, and recognize them for their strong contribution towards the company’s goals and objectives.  It’s important that these meetings are done on a frequent basis to keep high levels of productivity and interest in the workplace.

Overall, as with any “culture” initiatives, gratitude in the workplace starts at the top. If your employees see you practicing appreciation, they will follow suit and express thankfulness to their coworkers. Making gratitude a cultural focus will increase productivity across the board and create a much better environment for everyone – including you.