According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics American’s spend 8.7 hours per day working. At least one-third of your life is spent conducting work related activities.
Shockingly, the latest Gallup Poll on Employee Engagement in 2014 reports that more than 70 percent of U.S. employees are not engaged at work.
One way to create a positive workplace that engages employees is through appreciating and rewarding people for their efforts. Acknowledging positive behavior is the best way to perpetuate it.
Here is a short list of ways to acknowledge and appreciate employees and coworkers:
1. Send a hand written note. A thoughtful handwritten note is often saved by being taped in their work area or saved in a drawer that is referenced many times over. In a digital era, handwritten notes are rare and can have a huge impact on the recipient.
2. Offer a paid day off. Everyone can use a day to take care of personal issues or to enjoy a little more leisure time. A paid day off can afford a three-day weekend or other excursion.
3. Say “thank you” often. It only takes two seconds! For some people uttering these words is like an act of Congress. For others they have simply fallen out of the habit of being courteous. Make it a point to say thank you when people honor your requests or when someone does or says something nice to you.
4. Share a photo of the person. Display a Wall of Fame that highlights all of your employees. Add their photo on the company website and post it on company social media sites. Also, submit the photo with newspaper press releases.
“Being an example is not a way of influencing others, it is the only way.”
– Albert Einstein
5. Hold an appreciation ceremony. This can be a formal event or as informal as part of an agenda item for your weekly team meetings where you take a few minutes for employees to verbally acknowledge the efforts of coworkers.
6.Give away a gift card of choice. Offer a smorgasbord of gift cards to choose from ranging in free gas, free meals, free hotel stays, or whatever they want.
7. Provide personal development training. Offering ongoing training in areas like team building, leadership, effective communication, goal setting, and time management are just some of the offerings a company can provide to build a powerful company culture.
8. Give VIP tickets. Furnish tickets to their favorite famous band, professional sports game, art show or any event that they would enjoy that offers special treatment to attendees.
9. Rotating trophy. Get a trophy that circulates through your team. Each person awarded the trophy holds it for one week then passes it on to another coworker. Each pass off from one trophy holder to another must announce why the person is receiving the trophy.
*Bonus*
10. Give the power of voice. Create a culture of insight and innovation by allowing employees to be heard. This confirms that you value their opinion and perspective. Important ideas come from both ends of the organizational structure.
11. Use the word “please” often. Politeness opens doors while rudeness closes them. We make requests so that people will carry them out. One tool to increase the probability of gaining the help you want is to attach the word “please” when asking.
12. Use the word “please” often. Develop a mentor and mentee program to develop your next level of leaders. Match current leaders with a future leader to share and transfer knowledge.
13. Use the word “please” often. Set forth the expectations that are to be met. Provide the training to meet or exceed performance is necessary. Then, allow the independence and self-determination to fulfill defined expectations. Freedom to perform is appreciation in action.
14. Go for the win/win. Successful negotiation is achieved when both parties’ needs are fulfilled. When fulfilling the needs of others, you are allowing them to walk away feeling good. Developing a win/win outcome establishes a positive connotation with the experience, which ultimately sets the tone for future interactions.
You can create a culture of engagement. Use a few of these tips on how to acknowledge others and show appreciation.
Best of success to you!
Jeffrey Benjamin is the founder of Breakthrough Training that provides team building, leadership, strategic planning and effective communication skills training in Reno.
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