As a business owner, you’re responsible for your team. Their wellbeing in the workplace matters because it affects their overall performance and behavior, and if those aren’t up to par, then it reflects poorly on you and the company.
Your employees are arguably the most important aspect of your business. Without them, the progression of the company slows down as well as the time it takes to accomplish its goals. They keep the wheels turning and your business afloat. So, how come there are so many employees out there who feel unappreciated by their bosses?
Gallup reports that only 45 percent of employees are completely satisfied with the amount of recognition they receive on their achievements. That means that more than half of the workplace feels dissatisfied with how management runs the workplace, which leads to high turnover and burnt out, unenthusiastic employees.
It’s essential to show your team members appreciation for their hard work because it boosts productivity and morale in the workplace. People are willing to work harder and do better when they feel like their efforts are recognized and appreciated. So, when this doesn’t occur, it makes for a disorganized, unmotivated workplace.
If you want to learn a few different ways you can show appreciation for your employees, here are three thoughtful tips to try.
1. Voice your gratitude
Even if you’re appreciative in your head, it doesn’t help if you don’t communicate those feelings to your team. They aren’t mind readers; you need to let them know you’re proud of their work and how it positively affects the company.
Make an effort to reach out to employees individually and express how they did something well and why it benefits the organization. Did they submit a report earlier than usual? Did they handle a customer service complaint so well that they were able to keep that customer and convince them to continue a relationship?
When your employees do something positive, you and the company as a whole should recognize that effort. Saying “thank you” goes a long way and makes people feel seen for their efforts. You can even add a note in your staff directory when an employee overcomes a hurdle or helps to solve a company-wide issue. Open gratitude lets people cope with stress better and motivates them to continue their hard work.
2. Provide advancement opportunities
There’s always going to be something your team can improve on or advance in, but if they don’t have the resources to do so, it poses a challenge. Even if people wish to learn something new in their field or take courses to improve their skills, it’s difficult to do with a full-time job. You can change this by offering training and encouraging extended learning.
In a report by the Society for Human Resource Management, 31 percent of employees considered paid training and tuition reimbursement “very important” to their overall job satisfaction. Offering employees opportunities to advance in their current positions demonstrates your appreciation in multiple ways. It shows your team you want to see them succeed, and handing them the tools and time to do so is the ultimate way to encourage their progression.
Consider setting up a Learning Management System (LMS) for employees so they can take their knowledge a step further. This is software that provides courses, training programs, and extended learning so your team can advance in their field and sharpen their skillset. Enterprises and organizations of all kinds use LMS to educate their crew and assess their performance.
Take your appreciation one step further by allowing employees to work on projects outside of the usual scope that challenges them to use their new skills. It breaks the monotony of their usual work routine and broadens their work horizons.
3. Accommodate time off requests
Time away from work is vital for employees. It refreshes their mind, boosts their energy, and mentally prepares them to return to the grind. Even those who love their job need time away to regroup and take care of their mental and emotional wellbeing. Creating a work-life balance is essential since two-thirds of U.S. employees work while on vacation.
Time off isn’t just about resting; it’s about recovering. People spend so much time stressing about their work duties that, when it comes time to relax, it feels nearly impossible. The goal of allowing more time off and accommodating these requests is to give employees space to assess their state of wellbeing and take steps to feel better. As human beings, we need to be healthy and secure to feel happy, and if our jobs don’t provide that, we feel the need to go elsewhere.
Managers and higher-ups need to understand that time off is about more than having fun, although that’s important too. Time away from work is essential to regroup and feel appreciated in the workplace. Failure to accommodate your team in this way shows you don’t care about their needs and continues the cycle of feeling undervalued.
Over to you
Expressing gratitude to employees is essential to build a team that feels appreciated and acknowledged. Without it, you’ll create a team of employees that don’t work as productively and don’t give their full potential to their tasks. As the boss, it’s essential to voice your appreciation and show it in your actions to build a positive company culture and boost morale in the workplace. How will you show appreciation to your employees?