UXL Blog

While this is considered the season of gratitude, offering gratitude and thanks to employees is always a good idea. The American Psychological Association found that 93% of employees “who reported feeling valued said that they are motivated to do their best at work, and 88% reported feeling engaged.” Additionally, the same study found that only 21% of the respondents who felt valued planned to seek a new job in the next year.

Gratitude may be good for the bottom line and aid in improving employee retention but, most importantly, it’s the right thing to do. No one likes to feel unappreciated or overlooked. And, conversely, most people respond well to some kind of recognition or gratitude.

So, how can you incorporate thankfulness into everyday business practices? Try these 5 approaches?

Make It Personal

Rather than thanking someone for their hard work or all their “time and effort,” it’s better to get specific. When you personalize your feedback, you demonstrate that you’re truly paying attention to that person and their contributions. For example:

“Thank you, Pete, for stepping up last week to help us complete the ABC Project on time. Your efforts may have helped salvage our relationship with that company.”

OR: “Nan, I’ve noticed you helping the new hire and I really appreciate you taking him under your wing. I can already see an improvement in his work.”

Avoid Email

It’s fine to send a note of thanks over email, but it’s better to use a more personal approach. Pull someone aside after a meeting to thank them, give a phone call, or write a handwritten note. The last method is one of my favorites, since it shows a little extra effort and it is something the recipient can hang onto.

Reward and Recognize

Some instances call for a little extra thanks. If an individual or team have gone above and beyond for a project, or have been a top performer(s) for a long time, it probably makes sense to offer recognition in some way. This could be as simple as a shoutout during a team meeting or as formal as an award. You might also consider giving above-and-beyond employees a monetary reward, such as a gift card or a higher bonus (whatever makes sense, given the circumstances and your company’s policies/norms).

Encourage Peer-to-Peer Recognition

Encouraging employees to show gratitude towards their peers creates a positive and supportive work environment. Consider implementing a peer-to-peer recognition program where employees can nominate and acknowledge their colleagues for their outstanding work. This not only boosts morale but also fosters teamwork and camaraderie among employees.

Celebrate Milestones and Achievements

Take the time to celebrate milestones and achievements, both big and small. Whether it’s a project completion, a sales target reached, or an employee’s work anniversary, acknowledge and celebrate these accomplishments. This can be done through a team lunch, a personalized note, or a small gift to show appreciation and recognize their hard work.

Incorporating thankfulness into business practices is never a bad idea. To get started on cultivating a culture of gratitude, start small but keep up the momentum. You never know what kind of impact a sincere gesture of thanks might have on someone.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

Tags: give thanks to employees, incorporate gratitude into workplace, margaret smith leadership, Margaret Smith LP of Insights, thank you at work, workplace gratitude