5 Ways To Show Your Employees You Appreciate Them

Anybody who was once an employee knows how important it is that your boss shows appreciation for what you do. This is not simply a matter of giving something material or quantifiable - it's also a way to motivate employees into performing better - simply because they are so inspired by their thankful boss.

Too often, bosses tend to forget that employees have feelings and tired physical bodies. The salary bosses give is a given (no one will work for free anyway), but paying an employee to do work does not give bosses license to squeeze them for every penny they are paid. Remember that happy employees will often result in a successful business, and tired and unhappy employees produce lower-quality output. Employees help bosses achieve targets, expected outputs and eventual progress for the entire company - without them, a company will be in chaos.

Here are 5 simple ways to show your employees your appreciation.

Praise and thank them

Praise something your co-worker has done well. Identify the specific actions that you found admirable. Say thank you. Show your appreciation for their hard work and contributions. And, don't forget to say "please" often as well. Social niceties do belong at work. A more gracious, polite workplace is appreciated by all.

Provide opportunities for advancement.

People want to feel that eventually, they will be chances for advancement. No, not more work, but bigger responsibilities which SHOULD come with additional compensation. No one wants to remain stagnant in any position.

People also want chances for training and cross-training. They want to participate on a special committee where their talents are noticed. They like to attend professional association meetings and represent your organization at civic and philanthropic events. All of these things are ways you can show that you trust the capabilities of your employees - which is such an ego-upper.

Talk to your employees.

Ask them how they plan to spend the weekend, where they're going on vacation, what they do in their off hours, if they like Mexican food. Ask your co-workers about their family, their hobby, their weekend or a special event they attended. Your genuine interest - as opposed to being nosey - causes people to feel valued and cared about. Show some genuine interest in them as people, not just workers.

Set some budget for bonuses and raises.

The ultimate prize employees will truly appreciate is by rewarding them with a raise or gift. If your organization is structured in a way where there is not a place for your employees to advance, showing your appreciation through bonuses and raises sends the message that your employees are doing a good job and should keep it up. If you are an employee and see that your company is doing well, yet the profit is not shared with the very people that helped the company achieve its goals, then this becomes a trigger for hidden resentment - which may affect an employee's quality of work. Learn to share.

Give them some time off

Everyone, including mere employees, get tired after continuous days and months of work. Honour after-office time, observe holidays. Employees are not robots - they have families which will truly appreciate more time to be with your people. Besides, vacations allow employees time to recoup and rest their weary bodies and minds. Sometimes, vacations and leaves are much more appreciated by tired employees than money, gifts or praise. The cue is, if you yourself feel tired from work and feel that you need to take time off - then most probably, your employees feel the same way too. Don't wait for them to collapse at work from exhaustion or reach the saturation point of their brain power. Employees are people too - who have lives outside of work.

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