Every manager wants their team to thrive. This will increase both work efficiency and employee morale, which leads to higher retention rates saving both time and money on turnovers. There are a number of ways that you can let your employees know that you recognize and appreciate the time and effort that they bring to their work. 

In this article, we will take a look at these different ways, and discuss the combination with the greatest impact. 

Big and Little Gestures

You can recognize your employees’ time and effort by awarding them with things like an end-of-the-year bonus, a promotion and title change, or by giving them a raise. These are big, more formal ways to recognize your employees. 

There are also smaller, more informal ways that you can recognize your employees. This could include a verbal thank you, a hand-written note, or by giving a shout-out at company meeting. 

Why a Combination Is Important 

You can’t always hand out big gestures. Not only would it be outside of the company’s budget, but oftentimes things like bonuses and raises are done on a set annual schedule. Plus, not everyone can get a big pay bump or promotion every time. You do not want employees to feel as though – if they do not receive a “grand gesture” – that their time and energy is not seen or felt. It is important to sprinkle in these little gestures to keep morale from falling. This will have a big impact on things like employee satisfaction and retention rates. 

Do Not Just Recognize Your Employees, Appreciate Them  

Even though we often talk about “recognition” and “appreciation” as though they are the same thing, there is an important difference between them: 

Recognition is where you praise a team member for something they have already done. On the other hand, appreciation is where you praise a team member for who they are. 

It is important to reinforce a job well done. You also want to make sure that your employees feel appreciated for what they bring to the table, not just recognized for their past accomplishments. You can show your employees appreciation by making time for them, being open to communication, and telling them that they are valuable members of your team. 

Your Next Steps 

Over the next week, take note of when you compliment your employees – pay attention to whether you are praising them as an individual or the work that they have done. At the end of the week, you will know if you need to increase the amount of recognition or appreciation that you are showing your team. The goal? Aim for a happy medium of the two. 

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