Source: forbes.com
The holiday season is upon us, and for business leaders, it is the perfect time to consider how you can show appreciation for your employees and co-workers. It’s also the perfect time to evaluate why employee recognition, engagement and support are so critical to the success of your organization in the first place, along with how you can implement comprehensive, year-round practices that improve productivity and attract and retain top talent.
Today, strengthening and engaging your teams is about much more than an employee-of-the-month plaque. Here are five ways you can amplify the thanks you offer to your teams, while turning your employee appreciation goals into employee empowerment realities.
Recognize feedback as a gift.
Providing regular, constructive feedback to your team members achieves multiple goals. First, it helps employees improve and grow professionally, offering actionable intelligence about specific skillsets and strategies. But at the same time, feedback works on a larger, symbolic level, showing that you care about the growth and success of the people who help your business move forward every day. This sense of meaning, in turn, can help boost your employees as they seek to improve. In fact, Gallup found that “80% of employees who say they have received meaningful feedback in the past week are fully engaged.”
To be effective, feedback must be clear, constructive and insightful. Consider developing a simple feedback framework to structure conversations with your team and committing to ongoing, regularly scheduled feedback sessions. Ultimately, providing employees with a careful review of their work is an authentic way to show gratitude and interest. In other words, investing in their development and success is the ultimate “thank you.”
Make listening a habit, not a once-a-year event.
While it is essential to offer your advice and ideas about advancement and improvement, it is also important to receive information from your employees. Actively listening to your team members is a critical part of the professional development equation and, like feedback, demonstrates a commitment and concern that adds immense value to the workplace experience. One study found that employees who feel heard are more engaged and dedicated. Listening, then, is not just about collecting information; it is also about giving your time and attention.
To some, listening may seem like a simple skill, but it takes practice and effort to process the intentions and concerns of others, which is why many organizations offer dedicated training programs on the topic for managers. Regular check-ins with your employees that involve authentic listening can lead to important structural and operational changes that can improve business outcomes. In addition, organization-wide tools, like employee surveys across a range of topics, can enhance your insight into your team members’ attitudes and experiences.
Show care through employee wellness.
Not surprisingly, there is a business case to be made for investing in employee health and wellness. Consider research from McKinsey Health Institute and the World Economic Forum, which concluded that up to $11.7 trillion in economic value globally could be generated from enhanced employee health and wellness. Of course, this large number reflects the importance of prioritizing the health of employees who are working in a variety of challenging conditions around the world, but it also speaks to a simple truth: When people are healthy and happy, they are more focused and productive.
But there is a more critical reason to focus on the physical, emotional and mental well-being of your employees: It is the right thing to do, and it is one more way to show gratitude. Your employees spend a great part of each workday in the office or on the job. Their time and experience working has a large influence on their health and happiness. According to surveys reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 84% of workers said their workplace conditions played a role in at least one mental health challenge and 81% said they were looking for workplaces that support mental health.
Wellness initiatives you should be considering range from flexible schedules to mental health resources or well-being campaigns. At DHL, for instance, our “Are You OK?” program includes a combination of frequent pulse checks and comprehensive health programs designed to offer structured resources and frequent support and reminders about the importance of wellness.
Celebrate success, and recognize excellence.
For many companies, employee recognition programs are often underutilized and too narrowly focused. According to Gallup, most workers don’t believe they have received recognition for their good work, and employees who feel they aren’t adequately recognized are twice as likely to say they’ll quit within a year.
It makes sense, then, for your company to broaden and systematize your employee recognition efforts with a variety of programs. Celebrating the achievements of your team members boosts morale, increases engagement and commitment, and ultimately lets everyone (even your customers) understand your business culture. You can recognize employees for big and small achievements on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis. Also consider instant, on-the-spot awards for a job well done. Rewards can be both simple and involved, ranging from company-wide e-mail profiles to small or large financial prizes.
Connect teams to the bigger picture.
Gratitude also means trust. Sharing business results and strategic updates with your teams shows them that they are part of something meaningful. When you communicate regularly with your employees about their contributions and about your organization’s overall business strategies and results, you are demonstrating respect and encouraging commitment to a large cause.
The bottom line is this: Expressing thanks is a year-round endeavor, requiring daily leadership and consistent effort. By giving meaningful feedback, listening actively, supporting wellness, recognizing achievements and fostering transparency, business leaders can show appreciation, create a powerful workplace culture and drive organizational success.