One of the most impactful things you can do at work is to show your appreciation for a job well done. We all spend a significant amount of time at work and would like to be appreciated for the contribution we make. Positive recognition makes us feel better and motivates us to continue to contribute as much as we can. As a manager, when you show your appreciation of an employee's efforts it motivates them to continue to do their best, it increases productivity and it helps cultivate an environment that breeds loyalty. As an employee it is equally important and rewarding to show your appreciation of a coworker. A team becomes stronger when team members appreciate the efforts of their peers.

Showing appreciation is a critical skill to develop so you and your team can succeed. The simplest step to take is to learn to say thank you'. When an employee does a particularly good job produces high quality, does extra to complete a job early, or finds a creative way to achieve a goal at reduced cost the easiest thing to do is say thank you'. If an employee's action produces or exceeds a desired goal then be sure to reinforce the behavior by
showing appreciation. Hopefully you'll see it again.

If you are a manager, there are many ways you can consider showing your appreciation beyond saying thank you. A show of appreciation does not need to cost a lot of money to have an impact, so be creative. Here are seven ideas you can use:

1. For smaller achievements give a gift certificate for ice cream, free coffee, lunch, or movie tickets.
2. For achievements that took a long time to complete pay for a dinner for two so the employee can share the reward with their spouse, significant other, or friend.
3. If the job has kept an employee away from home either traveling or working nights and weekends then send a note to their spouse/significant other to acknowledge the support they give for the employee and thank them.
4. Give the employee an extra day off.
5. Ask someone on the executive management team to call the employee to recognize what they've accomplished and thank them personally.
6. Take the team out to lunch or bring in a treat. Something simple like bagels, donuts, cookies or ice cream will go a long way.
7. Publicly recognize and thank the employee at the next department meeting.

Any of these ideas can have a significant impact. Here are some things to keep in mind when considering what to do. First, be sincere. Only say thank you if you truly appreciate what someone did. Second, be sure the size of the reward fits the size of the achievement. And third, be timely. Showing appreciation immediately leaves a more lasting impression.

Learning to show appreciation will foster a working environment where everyone wants to do their best to succeed. So, give it a try. It's fun that pays off!

Learn more about this author, Pat Fox.
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