Whatever size your business is, owners and managers are constantly striving to increase productivity, improve profits, and continually grow the business. Many companies feel that the answer lies in technology, and therefore spend copious amounts of money on information technology systems; while other companies try to slash costs by cutting back on staff members.
Both of the above options provide their own challenges: it is impossible to ascertain whether IT investments will pay dividends, and cutting staff numbers can be demoralizing for the remaining employees. Either route could potentially lower productivity and cause more problems than it was originally trying to solve.
Gratitude Costs Nothing, But Could Change Everything
The best managers in the world have an innate ability to treat their staff individually- knowing which members will benefit from words of praise, and which need constructive criticism. Unfortunately, many managers feel that criticism is the best motivational tool available to them, and view positive praise as a soft option that makes their leadership look weak.
For some, this can be traced back to their days at school. Teachers rarely, if ever, call home to offer praise or positive reinforcement. When school calls home, it is invariably due to some misdemeanor.
Praise and gratitude cost nothing, but when implemented properly, can provide many benefits within the workplace.
The Benefits Of Gratitude
1. Increase In Job Satisfaction – When a manager takes the time to congratulate an employee on a job well done, that staff member will feel appreciated and much more inclined to keep working hard. They will feel recognized, and their job satisfaction will increase. Compare this with an employee who is dedicated and works extremely hard, but feels unappreciated. Over time, this lack of appreciation could eat away at the staff member to the point where their productivity levels may drop. After all, if they work hard or take it easy and still get the same reaction from their boss, there is little incentive to work hard.
2. Increase In Productivity – Staff who feel appreciated by their employers have been shown to work harder and become more productive.
3. Increase In Team Morale – As members of staff receive praise and gratitude they are more likely to pass that on and further encourage positivity amongst the entire organization.
There are many other benefits that can be gained by showing gratitude to your staff. Here are some ideas that are cheap to implement, but will actively promote the feel-good factor and hopefully increase productivity within your company.
Three Excellent Ways To Demonstrate Gratitude In The Workplace
1. Reward An Employee With A Half Day Off – Nobody wants to spend more time at work than is necessary, so if an employee has provided exceptional service then offer them the opportunity to come in later or leave earlier on a day of their choice. This will make them feel valued, and may even motivate other employees to aim for that reward.
2. Offer A Casual Day In The Office – If you want to inspire the whole team, then reward them for a job well done by letting everyone have a casual day. This is excellent for team morale, and will also encourage a more unified and relaxed atmosphere.
3. Show Compassion For Employee Situations – Life happens, children get sick, partners have accidents, and sometimes your employees need a little help to get over a bump in the road. A great way of showing some gratitude to your staff is to provide them with some flexibility and understanding. Small and simple acts of care and understanding will motivate and inspire your staff, making them feel valued, and hopefully resulting in your company reaping the rewards.
Showing gratitude is a very cost effective way to inspire and motivate your staff. Compared to investing in IT equipment, the risks are minimal and the benefits could be huge. People respond well to feeling appreciated, so try implementing some of the above ideas. You might be surprised with the results.