March 3rd is Employee Appreciation Day!

It is so easy to get caught up in the chaos of the every day that sometimes we forget to slowdown and reflect on things that are going well versus things that are keeping us up at night, things that we enjoy versus things that we dread. This is absolutely the case for me at times not only in my home life but also at work.

As a people manager at my job, it is important I remember to pay attention to things like birthdays, service anniversaries and other milestones worth celebrating. I strongly believe, and know that research confirms, that the culture of a workplace is critical to the overall morale of a team and ultimately for retaining talent. I strive to have a culture where everyone feels valued and appreciated; though I know there is always room to grow and improve on that.

When I learned that March 3^rd is Employee Appreciation Day, I thought how that is such an easy win as a manager as a way to reinforce my appreciation for my team.

Here are a few ideas and things to keep in mind so you can ensure your team or those you work with feel appreciated.

Know how they like to be recognized. Just because you may like to receive some sort of public accolade when you accomplish something, doesn’t mean that everyone does. Some people would rather melt into the ground than have any attention on them. Take time to ensure you know how people prefer to be recognized. Even just asking them this question could make them feel seen and brighten their day.

It doesn’t have to cost money. Sure, it’s great when we can get something monetary. However, it is also important to remember that a simple thank you can go a long way; depending on the accomplishment. Even just telling them happy Employee Appreciation Day and telling them you are glad to get to work with them/have them on the team could be meaningful.

Gain and share feedback. If you have some recent positive feedback on one of your teammates/employees, share it with them! We should always do that but it would be extra thoughtful to solicit, as appropriate, to pull out some specific things that others appreciate about this person.

Share a positive experience. Think about a quick highlight on each of your employees and share it with them. Depending on how they like to be recognized, this could be just one-on-one or in a forum like a staff meeting.

Ask them to share a funny or light-hearted story. One thing we like to share at my place at work are stories of our very first day at the company. I work for a large company and getting lost in buildings is really easy to do so naturally there are always funny stories about how long it took someone to find their desk or a parking spot. You could tell your team you appreciate them and then ask them to share a funny memory or experience they have had at work. Things like this can help a team come together in laughter and can really help with morale.

Ask if they have ideas. Again, keeping in mind everyone has different preferences when it comes to feeling appreciated. Let the team know you value them and see if they have any ideas as a team. A team appreciation lunch, morning coffee and donuts; optional of course for those who want to participate versus those who would rather just hear a verbal thank you and be on their way.

Do you have ideas for how to best show appreciation to employees? We’d love to hear!