An individual who is appreciated is more likely to show their gratitude by giving it their best and offering value in return. This is most applicable in the workplace setting. Expressing appreciation in the workplace is something that must be done more conscientiously, and this is called appreciation leadership.
As a leader, you play a vital role in shaping company culture, and a culture that is based on appreciation is a good one to nurture.
What is Appreciation Leadership?
Appreciation leadership is the secret to keeping employees satisfied in their jobs and to keep their performance level up. Indeed, when a person is appreciated, they deliver their best work. They feel recognized in the value that their work brings to the organization and it makes them want to continue doing that.
Leadership plays a crucial role in this because it is through leaders that appreciation is communicated to the members of the team. If you want to foster a more positive work environment and be rewarded with good work, it’s time to get started on building a culture of recognition in your workplace.
10 Reasons Why Appreciation Leadership is Essential
Why is it important to reinforce appreciation leadership in your workplace?
1. Makes Employees Feel Human
It is a basic human need to feel appreciated and recognized. It’s a good feeling to have when you are recognized for the hard work you’ve put in.
Leaders need to show appreciation on a daily basis in order to fulfill this basic human need. Making your employees feel human and to feel that they are seen is the essence of being part of your organization. It is not about the size and magnitude of the praise given. It is simply in the fact that they contribute to making the company better.
2. Makes Employees Engaged
Increased employee engagement is the aim for many leaders because it is equivalent to productivity at work. There are many studies that show giving your employees daily appreciation can cause a sizable increase in their engagement level.
3. Improves Company Culture
The success of an organization lies in the ability of the members of your team to work together. The mood and the work delivered by one person can impact the rest of the team.
Establishing a culture of appreciation in your work environment is the kind of culture that you want to nurture at work. The culture is what represents your team and the values that you hold as a group.
4. Increases Creativity
Showing appreciation on a daily basis is also beneficial in terms of promoting creativity. A team consists of people who come from different backgrounds. When you learn to appreciate the contributions from each member, it will force the team to come up with creative ways to make use of everyone’s talents and abilities.
On the other hand, anyone who isn’t appreciated or acknowledged in their work environment won’t feel inspired to give it their best at work because they don’t have enough motivation to do so.
5. Higher Retention Rates
Happy and appreciated employees are less likely to leave their current jobs. If you want to improve the retention rate in your organization, then you have to really think about giving daily appreciation to your employees.
Appreciation is directly linked to employee satisfaction. It’s not just about the leaders knowing the names of their employees; it is about trusting them and having confidence in them.
6. Builds Trust
Trust is developed and fostered by daily appreciation. There is a wealth of neuroscience research that shows the positive effects of the appreciation of trust. This is especially true when appreciation is given after a goal has been met.
7. Increases Performance
Appreciation and performance at work are closely linked, and there is more evidence to support that. Giving someone recognition for the work they have done encourages them to not only continue what they are doing, but also aim to make it better. If you want to boost your employees’ work results, then you must make daily appreciation a habit.
8. Changes Mindset
A change in mindset is one of the positive effects that you can expect for showing daily appreciation. It shifts the employees’ mindset to perform better than what they are already doing, since they start to see the difference they are making as a result of it.
9. Improved Employee Mood
When you are greeted with a show of appreciation, it can instantly lift your mood. The same effect happens to your employees when you show them daily appreciation. An employee that is in a good mood develops a positive outlook in life. This can have a direct impact on the level of productivity.
10. Inspire Greatness
Appreciation is inspiring. It is infectious. When you give appreciation on a regular basis, it makes people feel good about themselves and their abilities. It inspires them to aspire for greatness for more recognition – it is part of human nature.
How to Make it a Daily Habit
Knowing the importance of appreciation leadership, it’s important to start making it a habit. Here are some of the best methods that you can incorporate into your daily routine.
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- Make daily appreciation a part of your to-do list. You need to consciously make an effort to show your appreciation until it comes to you naturally.
- Send your employees daily emails. Send them an appreciation message to start their day. This message does not necessarily have anything to do with the actual tasks, but something to kick off their day on a positive note.
- Write them thank-you notes. You can scribble a thank-you message on a small piece of paper and distribute it to your employees at the end of each working day.
- Treat them to a snack or lunch once in a while. It is a small gesture that would show your appreciation of them.
- Ask them how they are doing. One of the best ways to show appreciation is to extend your help to make them feel that you appreciate the work they’ve been doing.
- Greet your colleagues and employees when you pass by their cubicle or meet them in the hallway.
