5 Ways to Build Appreciation in your Workplace

In this MasterClass Extract Sandra will share the 5 Ways to Build Appreciation in your Workplace.

Sandra will also explain:

• The 5 Languages of Appreciation & how to use them

• What’s in it for you

 

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[Video Transcript Below]

5 Ways to Build Appreciation in your Workplace

Appreciation in the workplace is culture building stuff. Here’s how you can make it work:

1. Start from the Top

Employees need to hear Appreciation from their bosses first.

You want to be taking the time to do this on a regular basis.

We know that great managers will give praise or encouragement at least weekly or every seven work days.

This is particularly important when the pressure is on and everyone is working really hard.

Don’t overlook the importance of this just because you’re feeling a bit exhausted yourself.

Expressing Appreciation can actually re-energise you.

Think about how important this is as a leader.

Setting the example of extending Appreciation and gratitude out into to the organisation.

First starting with your team and then if you’re in a senior management position, starting this right from the top of the organisation.

2. Encourage the Expression of Appreciation

It’s not just the manager’s job to appreciate other, but it does need to start with you.

At least monthly, you must incorporate some time for gratitude in your team meetings.

At your team meeting ask questions like:

• What’s gone well for you in the last month?
• What are you grateful for?
• What, or who, do you appreciate?

It’s important to understand that there might be some resistance or discomfort with this at first.

That just means people don’t have that habit yet.

Expressing Appreciation is a skill that needs to be developed.

Because we talk from the heart when we’re Appreciating someone, there are emotions involved and this can also create the discomfort.

My suggestion is keep going, persevere through the discomfort as the benefits will be worth it!

3. Thank People in Other Teams

There are many people in organisations who don’t get thanked much.

This could be your HR, payroll, finance, IT staff or admin people.

Show Appreciation for any of those people that you think make a great contribution.

This is about making their contribution visible as it can broaden everyone’s understanding of how the organisation functions.

Needless to say, it improves morale, it builds relationships, and it increases trust.

Having worked in HR myself for many years, a lot of people in payroll, for example, feel like all they ever get is complaints.

But imagine if we tried thanking them for a change. It’s a very important function that they do.

The IT people who keep your computers running. We complain when they’re not working, but do we thank them for the great job they do?

Think about the other teams that you interact with. A marketing team or your sales team, whoever!

Just think about how you could start extending Appreciation into other teams and encouraging your team to do the same.

You could become the trail blazer in your organisation for Appreciation!

4. Aim for Quality not Quantity

It must be sincere.

Developing an Appreciation process in your workplace is not about racking up the numbers.

Specific, sincere, quality Appreciation works best.

Insincere appreciation will backfire and unravel other good work.

The key is to create times and spaces that foster the voluntary spontaneous expression of Appreciation, but remember, don’t over-do it!

5. Learn about Appreciation

Observe how people express Appreciation or make requests or make complaints.

Look for the patterns.

Remember, individuals both give and receive Appreciation in some basic behaviour patterns. Such as:

• Through verbal praise
• Acts of service
• Giving gifts
• Spending quality time.

Learn about the Language of Appreciation and encourage this in your team.

Using the Language of Appreciation

Here’s how you can take some action and apply this learning now.

1. Think about the people that you work with. Those in your team that you have the most influence over.

2. What have you observed about them in relation to their Appreciation patterns? 

Can you identify one of your team members’ preferred language as a result of this learning? Have you got a sense of the people around you so can identify these patterns?

The best way to start observing others’ patterns is learn your own. Because once you learn the patterns and can identify them within yourself, you’ll start seeing them more easily in other people.

3. How could you appreciate them using their own preferred language?

4. Plan it out and take action before the end of the year.

The end of the year is often a time when people are tired and begin to reconsider their career options over the break. This is really important to realise.

• What could you say to them?  – Think about someone who loves verbal praise, what could you say to them?
• What could you do?  –  Someone who likes quality time, what could you do for them? Someone who likes acts of service, what could you do? Someone who likes gifts etc.

Sincere Appreciation will help strengthen connections and it’s important to end the year with connection strong.

What’s in it for you?

1. THEIR self-esteem – There is no doubt that when we appreciate others, we make them feel important and valued, which raises their self-esteem and helps improve their self-image. Feeling appreciated leads to the other person wanting to experience that same feeling again. So they’re likely to repeat the behaviors that they’re being appreciated for.

2. YOUR self-esteem – Appreciating others not only improves their self-esteem, it improves our own self-esteem and self-image as well. An interesting aspect of Appreciation is the chemical reaction that it causes in us. The neuroscience research shows that when we feel appreciated, a boost of dopamine is released in our brains.

 

Dopamine is the neurotransmitter associated with feelings of joy, pride, satisfaction, well-being, and motivation.  But here’s the thing… when you appreciate or affirm someone else, not only does that person feel great, but you do too. You also have a release of dopamine. So it’s a win-win. It works for both of us!

 

3. Appreciation Cements good working habits and behaviours – Appreciation is powerful. It cements good working habits and behavior at work. And it does this chemically, intellectually, and emotionally!