Showing Appreciation: A Sure Fire Way to Motivate People

Showing appreciation is the force which motivates us to do better. As businesses reopen and move back into buildings, let’s continue showing appreciation. It’s essential for growing a committed and engaged workforce.

Showing appreciation is a continual process.

During this time of crisis, people have lost their paychecks, safety, security and their lives. To show appreciation, their stories are shared on social media and the news. Everyone is doing their part.

Let’s remember the sacrifices, generosity and innovation being made during this pandemic. We can show appreciation for people working together, no matter the size of their contribution.

The difference between recognizing and showing appreciation.

While recognition is part of showing appreciation, it focuses primarily on performance or achievement. Thus, making it hard to include everyone who has an impact on the success of the project.

For example, maintenance, office support, IT, contracted employees, volunteers and interns are often forgotten.

I’ve never felt less motivated.

Because of a lay-off, my boss required us to take on “temporary” extra duties without additional pay. When things returned to normal, my boss received a promotion for her leadership skills. Although her team worked tirelessly, they were not mentioned.

It’s a common “top-down” approach to recognize a manager’s leadership skills.  In this case, my boss did not accomplish her goals without the support of her team. When she failed to recognize our contributions, we felt unappreciated.

You can show appreciation in different ways.

Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People, explains how each of us feels appreciation in a different way. To feel encouraged, the message must be communicated in a way which is valuable to the recipient.

Five ways people feel value when showing appreciation.

1. Words of Affirmation – praise for tasks or characteristics
2. Quality Time – listening
3. Acts of Service – contribution to a team
4. Tangible Gifts – bonuses, rewards, promotions
5. Physical Touch – handshake, high five, pat on the back

Notice that most of these do not require money. It only takes time, effort and a desire to show you care.

We’ve got something good going on.

When competitors unite to work together, they can defeat a common foe like Covid-19. This is accomplished by necessity and showing appreciation to those willing to join the battle.

Many employees are adjusting to the rapid shift from the office to working at home. And they are doing it without the support provided in an office environment. Yes, workers are becoming more innovative using technology to get the job done.

Also, we are seeing a new tolerance for employees being parents while working. Parents are learning to balance working from home with schooling their children.

‘Everyone is in the same boat‘ is the new mantra.

Innovation and creativity at its best.

Everyone is asked to do their part by staying home and wearing a mask. Currently, people are sharing ideas for making masks since supplies are often unavailable. Recipes for homemade sanitizing wipes, substitutions for ingredients and quick family-friendly meals are shared on social media.

This is something we want to keep after the pandemic. I believe, working together, sharing ideas and creating innovative solutions is the answer to reactivating our economy.

Most importantly, showing appreciation is how we keep the momentum going.

How are you showing appreciation to people?

Warmly,
Jean

Want to learn more about how to bring out the best in people?

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Let’s work together to make this a better world to live in!