Nurturing a culture of appreciation and encouragement at work is necessary for the success of any organization. A culture of appreciation exists when leaders make their employees feel valued in the workplace, and when they recognise their efforts and achievement. Making gratitude a habit in the workplace gives employees a sense of belonging and also makes them more likely to show up, share ideas, and collaborate with others.
Benefits of creating a culture of appreciation in the workplace:
- Lack of absenteeism – people will be encouraged to show up to a place where they feel celebrated
- Easier recruitment – the organization’s reputation will be one that is known for its healthy environment; therefore being more appealing to employees
- More efficiency – employees are more likely to collaborate with others if they have a space that encourages them to do so
- Joyful work environment – expressing gratitude for others boosts morale and overall satisfaction levels
How to Nurture a Culture of Appreciation at Work
1.Celebrate milestones
Recognising an employee’s effort by celebrating their achievements and accomplishments is the best way to show them that their impact on the business is appreciated. Celebrating when a coworker reaches a key performance indicator, gets a promotion, closes a deal, or leads a successful project is an example of celebrating milestones. This also creates a sense of belonging and unity within the organization. As people get the chance to gather and celebrate each other.
2.Give regular feedback
Silence can leave people feeling confused. Giving feedback regularly, and praising coworkers when they deserve it, is a good way to keep coworkers on track. Attempting to create a culture of appreciation through praise doesn’t mean that you will sugar coat feedback or that you will avoid giving negative feedback. To give negative feedback, make sure to use the sandwich method. The sandwich method starts with stating one positive thing, followed by the negative feedback or the particular aspect you wish to see improvement in, and then ending it with another positive statement. This shows the employee that you are not only fixated on what’s going wrong.
3.Encourage employees to share their ideas
Leaving room for coworkers to share their ideas and encouraging them to speak their mind gives them a feeling of being needed and valued in the workplace. Silencing them or dismissing their ideas indicates that their input is not valuable. Big meetings can discourage employees with less outspoken personalities from voicing their opinions. So it’s important to think of alternative methods to hear their ideas. You can use small breakout rooms, surveys, and one-on-ones sessions.
4.Give emotional support
If you know that a coworker is going through a difficult time, make sure to offer emotional support. You can do that by checking in on them, offering to make them lunch, sending them flowers if they’re grieving, covering for them, or asking them if there’s anything you can do for them. A small act of kindness during a rough patch can go a long way. It can also make them feel appreciated by you.
5.Give shout outs
People love recognition. Publicly giving shout outs to each other makes people feel satisfied because they are seen and recognized by others. You can do that by starting an “encouragement train” for five minutes before every meeting, where you start giving shout outs or thanking people on your team. You can also send out a weekly bulletin board where people can submit their shout outs and encouragements for others. Not only will this build rapport between colleagues, but it will also motivate people to work harder.
Reflection Questions:
- When was the last time I did something encouraging for someone else?
- Is gratitude a habit in my life?
- How can I take part in creating a positive and encouraging work environment?
