Employee Appreciation Day is this Friday, March 5.

Over the years, I have had numerous requests and conversations about the best ways to show recognition and appreciation to employees. Sure there is company swag that some employees like. Swag offers a nice way to help people feel part of a community. With so many employees working from home due do the pandemic, many feel disconnected from their work community, making swag a nice gift. And, there is the wonderful benefit of offering an extra day off, which now can be especially important, particularly for those struggling with undue stress, anxiety and other mental health challenges, which are on the rise due to the pandemic and changing circumstances at work. There are many ways to appreciate your employees. What will help you decide how to show your appreciation?

Helpful Tips to Making Appreciation Meaningful

When clients ask me for assistance with best ways to recognize their employees, I always ask them, as I asked leaders when I led the Human Resources function…

• Do you know what your employees/direct reports value?
• Do you know what is important to them that will make them feel appreciated?
• What conversation would be helpful for you to have to learn what is meaningful to them?

What is meaningful to one employee is not necessarily meaningful to all. If you truly want to show your employees/direct reports that you appreciate them and that you care, it’s essential to understand what’s important to them. As mentioned above, you can start by asking! And, you can also learn by observing and listening to them as they express their needs over time.

Empathy and Compassion

There has been a lot shared recently of the importance of showing empathy and compassion to your employees/direct reports. As The Center for Creative Leadership shared in this article, “empathy is a vital leadership competency.”  They go on to share, “Empathetic leadership means having the ability to understand the needs of others, and being aware of their feelings and thoughts.”

Additionally, there are many articles focused on employee recognition and appreciation. This February 2021 HBR Article suggests the importance of “establishing a positive organizational culture” and discusses the importance of “expressing praise and gratitude for keeping up morale”.  What this article reminds me of, is the importance to not only show appreciation to your employees on March 5, but that this needs to become a regular part of your interactions, if it’s not already.

How do you plan to acknowledge Employee Appreciation Day on March 5, if at all? How do you envision showing appreciation to your employees/direct reports going forward? What do you need to do to ensure it is meaningful to them?

Interested in brainstorming ways to appreciate, engage, and retain your employees? Curious about developing your ability to actively listen, show empathy and compassion? If you answered yes to either one of these questions, let’s connect.

“The deepest craving of human nature is to be appreciated.” – William James