How to Show Your Employees They’re Appreciated

How to Show Your Employees They’re Appreciated

‘Tis the season to be grateful. As you’re counting your blessings for your family, friends, and health consider your employees too.

Your employees are the people who keep your business running smoothly when you’re not around. They answer customer demands and put out small fires on a daily basis. It’s easy to miss saying “thanks” for all their hard work on a daily basis. This time of year gives you the perfect opportunity.

As we head into the busy holiday season, let your employees know how much you appreciate their hard work. Here are a few ways you can show gratitude to your employees.

Hold a One-on-One Meeting

Before the crowds of holiday patrons walk through your doors, use the calm before the storm as a way to get feedback from your team. Holding a one-on-one meeting shows you care about each employee’s input and want feedback.

Holding these meetings before the spike in holiday business will help you keep your employee on track and give her what she needs to perform her best. This small gesture will also make your employee feel like she has a voice, making her more invested in your overall success.

Pro tip: Schedule your one-on-one meetings into your scheduling software to give your employee time to gather her thoughts and come with valuable ideas.

Be Specific

While in your meeting or in the office, compliment your employees for a job well done. Instead of simply conveying a basic “thank you,” let your employee know specifically what she did well. The more specific you can be, the more your team will know you’re watching and seeing their hard work. This is a powerful way of showing your team they’re appreciated.

Show Trust

During the holidays, you won’t be able to be in the office or store to supervise your employees day in and day out. To keep them motivated, show them trust. Put your top performer in charge of sales for the day. Let your top manager take the lead to resolve any customer conflicts.

The more you can show an employee you trust her skillset, the more she will feel like a valued team member. When an employee is given a high level of responsibility, it’s not taken lightly. Let your employee know that you’re offering this responsibility because of how much trust you’ve put in their work ethic. When you do, the employee will work extra hard to show you that your trust is deserved.

A Treat

While you’re doling out feedback requests, compliments, and displays of trust, don’t forget to keep your workplace fun.

The holidays should be a festive time of year. Bring in a treat for your team to enjoy, such as a pumpkin pie for the break room or a change of uniform for the season. No matter the gesture, you can be certain your team will appreciate your displays of gratitude for their hard work making them work even harder for you during the holiday rush.

Author Profile Jon Forknell is the Vice President and General Manager of Atlas Business Solutions, Inc., a software marketing company specializing in employee scheduling software, including ScheduleBase employee scheduling software, and other business software solutions. In the past, Jon has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Atlas Business Solutions was named as one of Software Magazine’s Top 500 Software Companies in 2004 through 2007 and again in 2010, 2013 and 2014.