Today is NOT Employee Appreciation Day - making it the PERFECT time to express appreciation to the people around you. Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Errrr... I mean... Nobody expects spontaneous appreciation! ;)
Why does this matter? I'm glad you asked!
Gratitude improves retention. 53% of people say they'll stay longer if they feel more appreciated by their boss.
Gratitude enhances productivity. 81% of employees say they're motivated to work harder when they are appreciated by their boss.
Gratitude is crucial for belonging. When people feel appreciated, they feel like valuable members of the team. When people appreciate others, they reinforce those sociocultural connections in powerful ways that nurture team bonds.
Of course, this all presumes that gratitude is sincere. People can sense insincerity a mile away. I'm sure we all have horror stories about performative gratitude and how it made us feel gross. So don't be that person. ;)
Pro Tip: Appreciate people the way they prefer to be appreciated. Now sure where to start? Just ask people. Need a little more help? Check out the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace.
Need a lot more help? Let's chat. I'm sure we can find ways to make gratitude a normal way of working for you and your teams.