If you want your employees to be happy and productive, you
need to give them recognition for a job well done and let them know their work
is appreciated and important. In a workplace committed to creating an attitude
of gratitude and employee recognition on a daily basis all employees are
engaged.

Research has shown that recognition and appreciation is the
top driver of employee engagement. Perhaps it seems elementary, but if you want
employees who are fully engaged, you need to ensure they are recognized when
they do great work and that they know you appreciate their contributions to the
organization. Motivated employees do a better job of serving customers well.
Happy customers buy more products and are committed to using your services.
More customers buying more products and services increases your company’s
profitability and success.

Showing appreciation to employees begins with simple acts. The
impact of recognition magnifies when it carries a personal touch. Personalized
recognition speaks directly to the individual, acknowledging their unique
contributions and qualities. This customization can transform a generic gesture
into a powerful message of appreciation, making the recipient feel singularly
valued. The goal is that employees realize the thanks and appreciation are
genuine and know that their employers are paying attention to their individual
work and efforts. This also serves as a positive reinforcement of the
employees’ specific work behaviors.

Other ways for employers to show appreciation to employees
are: recognizing an employee’s good work in a meeting; planning periodic social
activities (e.g., ordering in lunch, a holiday party); and providing
training/progression/promotion opportunities. Employers may also consider
implementing formal reward and recognition programs to facilitate sustained
employee appreciation. Thoughtfully designed awards that incorporate elements
that reflect the recipient’s achievements and personality resonate on a deeper
level. They become not just tokens of appreciation but cherished symbols of a
moment in time when their efforts were recognized and celebrated.

There are numerous other ways for employers to demonstrate
their appreciation to employees, ranging from low-cost actions (i.e., formal
employee recognition letters) to those actions and programs that have a more
significant financial impact on the organizations (i.e., annual bonus
programs).

Regardless of the method used to show appreciation,
employers should remember that to positively impact employee engagement,
motivation, productivity and retention, the “thanks-giving” should be regular,
timely, sincere, applied equally and consistently throughout the organization,
and tied to employee performance.