7 ways to show staff and others that you appreciate them.
Being appreciated by others in our business lives can be a powerful thing. When someone puts in the time and effort to thank you or meet with you, you feel valued, remembered and needed. It all comes down to effective communication and this is a key element to any business. It is also important in other aspects of our lives too.
The following suggestions can help the people in your life feel appreciated and valued:
Say thank you and be specific
e.g Thanks for getting that done so quickly. e.g Thanks for doing the appraisal. Really took a load off me.e.g Thanks for the piece of work. The client really liked the diversity of solutions. It may sound elementary but some people just don’t do it and it is so powerful.
Acknowledge good ideas – even if just the root of a good idea.
Two of my clients were recently quite angry about not being acknowledged for their good ideas. Others built on them slightly and got all the credit. Remember to acknowledge even if you think the contribution wasn’t huge. It’s all about perception. This is where what is not said is just as important as what is.
Give more responsibility and ownership.
By letting go of total control, and letting people have ownership of a task, project or role in business, you are showing you trust and appreciate them.
Don’t pigeon-hole people in terms of what you think you know they are capable of.
Give people a chance and support them and believe in them. If they prove you wrong then re-asses. However, most of us can change, learn and improve in a supportive environment.
e.g Years ago I was playing squash and I was team captain. A young inexperienced player wanted to move up to the top in the team. I knew he was good and improving but I was sure if he went too high he’d lose. I was wrong. He had capabilities way beyond my opinion of him.
Show you respect them by being honest and not putting issues in the too hard basket.
Address issues as they come up in constructive way. This doesn’t mean go “blah” every time someone does something that displeases you. Do it in a controlled and constructive way when you have thought it through. But don’t leave it too long. This gives everyone concerned a chance to clarify, state their case and step up if required.
Give them your time – lunch or coffee or just touching base.
Relationship building takes time, so find the time and start building in a way that works for you – even if it’s a stretch at first.
e.g. One of my first ever clients years ago turned her team around in a matter of weeks by stopping to say hello to individuals in the morning. She is very task orientated and efficient and didn’t really see the need to spend idle time chatting. As a result, the team didn’t really see the need to perform for a manager who didn’t appreciate them enough to even stop and say hello. As soon as she took the time, she was more aware of what was going on for people, they felt appreciated and output improved dramatically.
Have team huddles
These take place first thing before people get into their day. They are to be no longer than 10 minutes and provide an opportunity for everyone to connect and get focused. People stand in a huddle (not sit) and everyone shares a win, something they will be working on that day and a possible challenge if they have one. Nothing is addressed in the huddle itself but it creates awareness so people can provide support, or seek out further support if they need to after the huddle. (Don’t forget you can have a virtual huddle of course).
Challenge: Show someone you appreciate them this week!
Thank you for your encouraging words. We’re happy to be able to share business insights for anyone who might need it. Good day!
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