One of the biggest questions that companies and organizations face is how to show more appreciation for employees. Most companies and organizations recognize the many benefits. Appreciation and gratitude have been associated with:
- Increased work engagement and better performance (Lee, Bradburn, Johnson, Lin, & Chang, 2019).
- Improved team creativity (Pillay, Park, Kim, & Lee, 2020).
- Prosocial behavior among colleagues (Cameron & Spreitzer, 2012).
- Strengthened social bonds (Grant & Gino, 2010).
Another study reported that people who witnessed someone being thanked were more helpful towards the grateful person, suggesting that the benefits of expressing gratitude may come full circle (Algoe, Dwyer, Younge, & Oveis, 2020).
But how can companies and organizations show more appreciation to their employees? Here are some ideas to increase gratitude in the workplace:
- Write a thank you note or send an email of appreciation to a colleague or employee.
- Reconnect with someone after a long delay to express gratitude.
- Publicly acknowledge an employee’s contributions during town hall or other public events.
- Send an email of thanks to an employee’s supervisor for the employee’s outstanding work.
- Create a virtual or physical space for employees to share shout-outs, kudos, or words of thanks.
It can also be difficult for some individuals to think positively about themselves or feel grateful. For many, practicing gratitude can be important. Here are a few ways to practice gratitude:
- Keep a gratitude journal by writing down three things you are grateful for each day, avoiding repetition for a week.
- Start each day with a positive affirmation about yourself to see how it changes your outlook on the day and situations as they arise.
Finally, there are many practices we can follow to build appreciation and gratitude into our workplace and daily lives. Everyone can reap the positive benefits of giving and receiving heartfelt thanks, even if it means giving it to ourselves. It just takes a little extra time on our part.
Written by David Brown, Behavioral Health State Specialist, Iowa State University Human Sciences Extension and Outreach.