Do You Appreciate Your Staff and Employees?

 By Donna Paige Riley, Master-Level Trainer, Certified Maxwell Coach, Speaker, and Teacher

Do you appreciate your staff or employees, and do you show your appreciation by recognizing and celebrating them? If you do not celebrate those on your team because you assume they should automatically feel appreciated, your assumption is most likely wrong. How would they actually know unless you demonstrate it?
 
Appreciating your team members have a lot to do with their morale and not appreciating them also affects their morale as well. The majority of employees polled stated that when they feel appreciated by their boss or superiors, they do more and care more about what they do.
 
I was inspired to write this article because I spoke with someone who has received favorable performance reviews over the years and reached his 19th anniversary last week. This gentleman has an impeccable work ethic, missed only a few days of work over this entire 19-year period, and this organization, which is a Fortune 500 company did not give him a thank-you note for his service or even send a thank-you email. In fact, there was no attempt to recognize him at all.
 
   As a Certified John Maxwell Leadership Team Member, Trainer and Coach, and an Etiquette Trainer and Coach, I believe that by not offering at least a thank you to this employee is a true demonstration of really poor business etiquette and leadership. Afterall, this gentleman committed almost two decades of his life serving this company.  This gentleman also shared that this organization very rarely recognizes anyone who is not a regional director or manager. He was not encouraged by this lack of recognition.
 
According to SHRM, when employee recognition is not important to employers, it can lead to a number of negative consequences, including:
 
 · Employee Disengagement-Employees may feel unvalued and disengaged and may doubt their performance.
 
 · Increased Turnover-Employees may be more likely to leave the company. However, employees with a positive experience are 68% less likely to consider leaving.
 
 · Lower Productivity-Employees may have lower self-confidence and performance, which can impact productivity and business growth.
 
 · Financial Losses-Organizations that don't have an effective employee recognition program may experience financial losses due to turnover and lack of engagement.
 
 Employee recognition can be a key factor in improving employee engagement, job satisfaction, productivity, and retention rates. Approximately 80% of companies have some type of employee recognition program, and 58% tie those programs to their organizational values.
 
 Be intentional about recognizing, affirming, thanking and showing appreciation to your team members.  They will certainly appreciate it.