Good bosses show appreciation!

I’m always amazed how often appreciation and recognition come up as key factors in making or breaking a work experience, often even more frequently than perks and wages. It’s such a simple detail that can have such a huge impact on morale and loyalty, but one that sadly is too often overlooked or at least not prioritized.

Genuine appreciation for someone’s work goes a long way in enhancing their work experience, making them feel heard and recognized for their meaningful contribution. It also fuels self-motivation and pride in one’s work and drives future performance.

This is not to say that reward should be handed out to everyone. Doing so would dilute the intention and the significance of the act, and would undermine the effort of those who really earned the recognition.  

Appreciation can encourage positive behavior and interaction. Think about all the good things that deserve gratitude, that are aligned with the culture you are growing, and are not just target based on sales performance. Did someone do something amazing that improved the work environment? Boosted morale? Really helped someone else out? Was really creative? Put in a lot of extra effort or time?

Assuming someone knows they're appreciation is not enough. Sometimes it the act of showing gratitude can be overlooked by us quieter introverts. So here are some introvert-friendly ideas you can use to show recognition and appreciation for your crew everyday:

1.     Say Thank You!

Super obvious, but often forgotten! A simple thank you can have a big impact.

2.     Give positive feedback

Make an effort to say something positive about someone’s the work. It shows that you are not only appreciative of their effort but actually took time to really digest and notice it.  

3.     Know and use names

Knowing someone’s name is really the most basic step to show respect and meet a minimum level of etiquette but is one that gets alarmingly forgotten especially in bigger organizations. I’m sure many of us had that flabbergasted moment on our first job when the big boss came by and used our name for the first time. Wow, I didn’t even think she knew who I was! You’re likely going to be familiar with someone you are thanking, but if you have a lot of staff using their name when you say thank you lets them know that you are paying attention to them regularly.

4.     Ask for input and ideas

People like to be heard and they like to contribute. If someone has done good work, ask them if they have any other ideas for that project or for another project. Even if you don’t end up using those ideas, you’ve made them feel valued and you might be able to put their genius into play later on. This one is especially useful if you are an introverted boss with extroverted staff; they naturally want to share their ideas, just as you want to hear them out. Just remember to give credit where credit is due!

5.     Treat them

Buy someone a coffee. Bring in snacks for your team. Take someone out for lunch. Taking time to do something to show appreciation adds more punch to your gratitude and makes it more memorable. Besides, everyone deserves a little something extra every once in a while.

6.     Write a thank you note

There’s just something extra special about an old-fashioned hand-written thank you note. Email works, but a card signifies an investment of your time and thought, and gives it a personalized touch. Over the years I’ve kept any little notes or cards that people at work have given me. When I’m having a rough day, I pull out my little stash and feel a little brighter.

7.     Set up an award program

Set goals and give people something to aim for. Friendly competition works wonders for keeping people engaged. Consider opening nominations to grow co-worker support. Reward for target performance and for extras.

8.     Organize a fun event

Show appreciation to your whole team by setting up something fun or relaxing to do. Group activities are great for team building and just having some down-time with the people you spend everyday with. Keeping it an optional perk prevents it from becoming an obligation.

9.     Encourage peer to peer recognition

Encourage co-workers to thank each other. Set an example by doing the same with your colleagues and bosses. Recognition moves in all directions.

10.    Thank them in front of a group

Okay, so this one takes a little extra effort if you’re a not-so-comfy-with-public speaking-type of introvert but if you are one of those, then this option is especially meaningful for the recipient because you're going out of your comfort zone to do something for them. Put them in the spotlight. It has even more impact if they are not expecting it and maybe think anyone else noticed their work. Not only does this show your thanks, but it will also motivate others. Be cautious of the type of person they are though, and adapt the strength and duration of that spotlight depending how much they like or don’t like to be the center of attention.

And don't forget to show your thanks when you are the recipient of feel-good recognition yourself too! Let your boss know you appreciate it. 

What creative ways do you show recognition?