How to Make Employees Feel Appreciated

Employee morale can make or break a business. When the people who manage the infrastructure of a company are unhappy, they are also less productive, less invested in the future of the business and less likely to remain in their position. Employers who are struggling to retain their employees or see signs of bad attitudes are, in all likelihood, dealing with a problem that is easily fixed. These are four quick and affordable ways companies can show appreciation for their workers and improve overall performance in the office.

Be Involved

Particularly in large companies, it is easy for employees to feel insignificant. They may see themselves as disposable, like one cog in a much bigger machine. To combat this perception, executives should take time to get to know their employees and make a conscious effort to reach out to them. This can be as simple as greeting people as they walk past or remembering to ask about a certain individual’s mother in the hospital. Employees who receive attention from their bosses feel valued and personally attached to the company and are more likely to increase their efforts during the workday.

Recognize Good Work

Some managers make the mistake of only speaking to employees when their work is substandard. This may be practical and an efficient use of time, but a constant stream of negative feedback is damaging to employee morale. Good work should be rewarded with recognition. A handwritten note is a quick, personal touch that shows workers their actions are being noticed and appreciated. For truly outstanding work, a signed letter of commendation in an employee’s file provides a tangible testament to his or her value to the company. This recognition can even be as simple as dropping by a work station to personally thank someone for contributing to a recent presentation or beating a deadline.

Assign Tasks to Each Employee’s Strengths

Different people have different skill sets. Some love to crunch numbers and analyze revenue, while others would be far happier leading a committee to investigate wasteful spending. A well-staffed office will contain a blend of leaders and followers with a variety of interests and talents. It is a manager’s job to utilize those individuals to the company’s best advantage. If an employee shows an aptitude for something and seems to enjoy doing it, a manager should consider giving him or her a minor title and forward similar assignments in the future. This doesn’t necessitate a pay raise, but it will still make the employee feel like an important contributor to the company.

Hold an Employee Appreciation Day

Once a year, every business should make the effort to host a small party celebrating the achievements of its workforce. This can be as simple or as elaborate as the budget calls for. People will appreciate even cake and the congratulations of upper-level management as a small gesture of goodwill and an opportunity to pump up enthusiasm for the coming year. Indeed, the entire process of boosting employee morale is primarily made up of hundreds of little considerations which may seem inconsequential at the time but add up to a more efficient, friendly and fruitful business over the long haul.

Bernhard S