Motivation by appreciation

How motivated is your team to work? Do they feel appreciated? It’s astonishing to see how many people leave relatively high-paying jobs because they don’t feel appreciated.

While things like a good salary and a yearly bonus, sure help to pay the bills, for lots of people money are just not enough. Some would like to hear a “thank you for your hard work” or a “well done on a good job” every now and again, while others prefer to be named “employee of the month” to feel they matter to the company.

If you take into account that most people spend up to 40 hours and more per week at work, it makes sense that personnel who feel they “are part of the company” and that “they make a difference” will be happier at work. Happier staff members equals higher productivity, better time-management and in the end better service or products to your
customers.

The bottom-line is... keeping your employees happy will put your business on the fast track to success.

That of course is easier said than done. You see, what makes one employee feel appreciated is not necessarily what makes another employee feel highly rated. However, once a supervisor or fellow employee learns to “speak” the primary
appreciation language of that particular person, the results become truly significant.

The five primary appreciation languages for the workplace are:

• Words of affirmation - Either written as a thank you letter or a certificate for good work or a spoken “thank you” and a “well done” in private or in front of the team.
• Quality time – Some employees feel appreciated and part of the company when they are part of a sports day, team building or just a function where they can “hang out with their co-workers.”
• Acts of service – Helping an employee with small tasks or bringing them coffee while they are stuck working on a deadline can do wonders for morale. People with this primary language will also see it as a an act of service if you work late with them on a project or just be in the office too until their work are done.
• Tangible gifts – There are people who like to give and receive small gifts. If their manager remembers, for instance, that they like chocolate with nuts and buy them some for their birthday or just because... then they will perform at their best.
• Physical touch – Although most forms of physical touch are frowned upon in the workplace, there are employees who need it to feel appreciated. This can be in the form of a “high five”, a slap on the back or a congratulatory handshake.