Over the Thanksgiving holiday, you may have given thanks and been grateful for all that you have – but when is the last time you communicated those same sentiments to your employees? Considering that numerous studies have revealed employee engagement is hitting new lows for 2011 and one of the top predictors of engagement is recognition and appreciation, it is becoming necessary for employers to retain their talent through open and honest communication.
Delving further into this matter is Dr. Paul White, a business consultant, psychologist, and the coauthor of the book, The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. Moreover, White claims how managers often will fail communicating their appreciation, which results in wasted time and effort. However, White reveals tips for employers in order to get the message across to workers effectively – consider these tips below:
- Make your praise specific and personal by recognizing each employee by name and what accomplishments they achieved.
- Separate affirmation from criticism so that positive praise is not overshadowed and often forgotten with negative remarks.
- Be genuine by being realistic about your positive remarks, as people can perceive exaggerated claims as “obligatory or contrived.”
Employers – take time to show your appreciation to employees. Even a small remark can turn around an employee’s bad day or bad month if they have been struggling. Even for happy and engaged employees, it can be an incentive to work with more drive and purpose.
Employers: How do you recognize your employees? Do you agree that showing appreciation can retain top talent?
