In today's fast-paced work environment, where deadlines loom and pressures abound, the value of employee engagement cannot be overstated. Engaged employees are not only more productive but also more likely to stay committed to their organizations. Major research was conducted on Employee Engagement in the UK by David McLeod and Nita Clarke in 2009 who worked with a vast range of organisations across the UK to better understand the link they were seeing between high employee engagement and high performance.
They concluded that the common factors in all these organisations were the Four Enablers of engagement (Strategic Narrative, Engaging Managers, Integrity and Employee Voice).
One often overlooked yet potent tool for fostering engagement is expressing appreciation. It weaves its way through the above 4 enablers and can be a powerful way of how colleagues agree to fundamentally treat each other day to day.
In this blog, I'll delve into the direct correlation between expressing appreciation and increased employee engagement, supported by research findings and real-world examples.
Understanding Employee Engagement
Before we explore the impact of appreciation, let's define what employee engagement means. Employee engagement refers to the emotional commitment an employee has to their organization and its goals. Engaged employees are enthusiastic about their work, dedicated to the organization's success, and willing to go the extra mile to contribute positively.
The Link Between Appreciation and Engagement
Research shows a strong correlation between feeling appreciated and being engaged at work. According to a Gallup poll, employees who feel adequately recognized are more engaged, resulting in higher productivity, lower turnover rates, and better overall workplace morale.
Gallup’s Q12 Meta-Analysis found that regular recognition and praise significantly impacts engagement levels. In fact, employees who receive regular recognition are more likely to stay with their organization, have higher productivity levels, and feel more committed to their work.
A study published in the Harvard Business Review revealed that organizations with a strong culture of recognition have employees who are more engaged and perform better. Moreover, these organizations tend to have lower turnover rates and higher levels of customer satisfaction.
So, how do organisations ‘do’ recognition well and how can we learn from these? One good example is Salesforce, a leading CRM software company, that is renowned for its culture of appreciation. Through its peer-to-peer recognition platform, called "Thanks," employees can publicly acknowledge and appreciate their colleagues' contributions. This culture of appreciation has contributed to Salesforce consistently ranking among the best places to work.
Another good example is Google – they incorporate appreciation into their company culture through various initiatives, such as peer bonuses and recognition programs. Employees at Google feel valued and appreciated for their efforts, fostering a sense of belonging and commitment to the organization's mission.
Implementing Appreciation in Your Organization
There are a number of key steps that you can take to effectively implement recognition schemes within your organisation.
Create a Culture of Recognition: Foster a culture where appreciation is embedded into daily interactions. Encourage managers and peers to recognize and celebrate each other's achievements openly. This can be anything from encouraging individuals to regularly and openly comment on how a colleague has helped them out or been supportive. Or it can be indirect recognition – where you consciously speak about a colleague in front of another and sing their praises. Both are easy to do – but are something we need to remind ourselves to do every day.
Provide Timely Feedback: Don't wait for annual reviews to express appreciation. Offer timely feedback and recognition for both small and significant accomplishments. This seems like a no-brainer – but so often organisations struggle to make this a reality. We all get swept up in delivering the day-to-day and forget about collecting or offering regular feedback, only for it to become a mass-scrabble at year end!
Use Multiple Channels: Utilize various channels, such as verbal praise, written notes, or digital platforms, to express appreciation. Different employees may respond better to different forms of recognition. In today’s virtual world a quick video message might work really well too – it’s a feature that most can now access on Teams or What’s App.
Lead by Example: Leadership plays a crucial role in setting the tone for appreciation. Leaders should actively participate in recognizing and appreciating employees to reinforce its importance.
Expressing appreciation is a powerful tool for enhancing employee engagement. By recognizing and valuing employees' contributions, organizations can cultivate a positive work environment where employees feel motivated, valued, and committed to their roles. Appreciation is not just a nicety but a strategic imperative for driving organizational success in today's competitive landscape.
So, we know it’s important, but one challenge I hear over and over, is how best to recognise colleagues regularly in a virtual environment. In an era where remote work is becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly leaders face the unique challenge of maintaining engagement and fostering a sense of connection among team members who may be miles apart.
While the distance may pose hurdles, the importance of expressing appreciation remains paramount. In this segment, we'll explore insights into how leaders can effectively express appreciation in remote work settings, highlighting the significance of maintaining engagement in virtual teams.
Remote work offers flexibility and freedom, but it also presents challenges, particularly concerning employee engagement. Without face-to-face interactions, team members may feel isolated, disconnected, and undervalued. Additionally, the absence of physical presence can make it challenging for leaders to gauge employees' morale and provide timely feedback.
The importance of expressing appreciation in remote teams
Expressing appreciation in remote work settings is not merely a gesture of kindness; it's a strategic approach to boost engagement and productivity. Research shows that remote employees who feel appreciated are more engaged, motivated, and committed to their work – just like their on-site colleagues.
But what strategies can leaders and colleagues use to build an effective recognition culture for remote teams?
Effective Strategies for Expressing Appreciation in Remote Teams
Regular Check-Ins: Schedule frequent one-on-one and team meetings to check in with remote employees. Use these opportunities to express gratitude for their contributions, acknowledge their efforts, and provide feedback. If you don’t have time for an actual call one week, consider sending them a video message instead!
Personalized Recognition: Take the time to personalize your appreciation efforts. Acknowledge individual achievements, milestones, and contributions during meetings or through personalized messages. Recognition is far more powerful if you can be really specific about what exactly the individual did and why it made a difference. So instead of saying: ‘A huge thank you to Clare for all her efforts last week’ it’s much more powerful to say: ‘A huge thank you to Clare for your attention to detail on the client report last week and making sure we got a really great product over the line on time. The clients called me and are very happy!’
Public Acknowledgment: Leverage team meetings, virtual forums, or communication channels to publicly recognize and celebrate employees' accomplishments. Public acknowledgment not only boosts the morale of the recognized individual but also inspires other team members. In addition, it helps create a culture of recognition and will encourage team members to speak up and recognise colleagues over time.
Virtual Appreciation Events: Organize virtual appreciation events, such as virtual coffee breaks, team lunches, or virtual happy hours, where team members can come together to socialize and express appreciation for each other's work. These are the new world water cooler chats, and we need to make the most of them!
Utilize Technology: Leverage technology tools and platforms to facilitate appreciation in remote teams. Use collaboration tools, like Slack or Microsoft Teams, to create dedicated channels for expressing gratitude and recognition.
Send Care Packages: Surprise remote employees with care packages or personalized gifts delivered to their doorstep as tokens of appreciation for their hard work and dedication.
Lead by Example: As a leader, lead by example by expressing genuine appreciation for your team members' efforts and contributions. Your actions will set the tone for appreciation within the team and be key to creating a culture of appreciation and recognition.
As we have seen, engagement in remote teams requires intentional efforts, with expressing appreciation playing a pivotal role. In today's digital age, where remote work is becoming the norm, prioritizing appreciation is not just a choice but a necessity for nurturing a thriving and engaged remote workforce.
To delve deeper into the realm of employee recognition, feel free to explore our Thank You Toolkit. It offers templates, suggestions, resources, and valuable insights on enhancing recognition within your organization. Visit the link below:
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