2-4-6-8, Who Do You Appreciate?

The best-performing teams use six times as many positive comments for every negative one. When leaders actively foster a positive environment to their team, the work culture improves, and everyone thrives in an atmosphere of appreciation. In addition, positive reinforcement can increase the chances of a desired behavior reoccurring in the future.

Interestingly, studies have shown that employees perceive a difference between recognition and appreciation. Your staff may feel recognized for the work they’ve done, but not appreciated.

Recognition focuses on performance or achievement of goals, or what a person does.

Appreciation focuses on the value of the individual employee or who the person is.

The key to appreciation is understanding from each individual what makes them feel appreciated. This will vary by individual, so the key is to identify what makes each team member feel valued. Monetary rewards can skew this notion of value, linking it to cash when it should be linked to appreciation of extra efforts and a job well done. Money can be appropriate much of the time, but it’s not the only – or even the most effective – motivator. When you make the right choice your expression of appreciation is valued. If you miss by giving a gift card to someone that does not value gifts, they won’t feel appreciated.

To help you get started identifying the type of appreciation that will be meaningful to your staff we’ve created a template. It’s designed to share with a new staff member on their first day of work. Let your new staff know that you care and want to know more about them and learn the things they like. Use their responses to try out different expressions of appreciation customized to their preferences. Make notes as you find the items that brighten their day and engage them versus the items that tend to fall flat.

When you get appreciation right you’ll find the level of job satisfaction increase and your work culture improve. Your business benefits from reduced turnover and engaged employees. The key is to personalize appreciation to each individual, so they feel like a valued part of the team.

To help you, here are several ideas on how to express appreciation to individuals and the team in a variety of different ways.