This Holiday season, remember to show appreciation not only for your friends and family, but also for your colleagues and bosses. Because recognition not only feels good, but it can decrease tardiness, absenteeism, and turn-over. Overall, sharing appreciation creates a stronger workplace community. It motivates workers by affirming their contribution and encouraging them to continue working hard.
Here are five ways to show appreciation this Holiday.
1.) Keep community spaces clean
A clean space can show that you respect your work and the work of others around you.
Though communal workspaces are for everyone, not everyone cares for them as their own. Make an effort to keep workspaces clean, even if you didn’t make the mess. Recycle. Wipe up any spills or coffee rings. Replenish paper and pens. Leave it like new for the next person to enjoy.
2.) Share a meal
Everyone needs to eat. Why eat alone? Whether you’re making a morning stop at your local coffee shop or swinging by the salad place around the corner, you can always offer to grab extras or invite a co-worker to join. Making others feel included is an important way of showing you care. Even if they turn down the offer, they’ll appreciate your consideration.
3.) Make time for small talk
People love to talk about themselves. Get them chatting. Do your best to acknowledge birthdays and anniversaries. And if there is no special occasion, just checking-in on someone can make a huge positive impact. You never know who is silently struggling, especially around the holidays. By taking the time to get to know your colleagues, you are building a community that can speak openly.
No time to chat? Leave a hand-written note. It doesn’t need to be long. It can be as short and simple as a thank you. But the effort you put in to write out your thoughts will shine through, leaving the recipient feeling special.
4.) Leave a review online
Let the world know about the hard work of your colleague by leaving an online review. In today’s world, online reviews are necessary for success, especially for small businesses. If you are unable to leave a review, endorse a colleague’s skill on LinkedIn or recommend their services to a friend.
5.) Ask for feedback
By asking for feedback, you show your colleagues that you value their opinions and past experiences on the job. Whether the feedback is useful or not, you are strengthening the community by sharing ideas which would have otherwise gone unheard.
Appreciation is not directional. You don’t need to be at the top to praise to the people around you.
