Appreciation Makes a Difference in the Workplace

Thanksgiving begins a holiday season that often sparks thoughts of gratitude and reflection on those who make a difference in our lives.  In the spirit of the season, I thought I’d focus on the positive actions of some companies who appreciate their employees.

Robert Chapman, the CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, has developed a business model that looks for “the goodness in people”.  The model includes recognizing individuals for their good work and contributions by sending a letter home to employees and their families.  The letter includes messages from the peers who nominated the award winners.  One consequence of the program is that the employees have noticed a difference in how they interact not only at work, but at home as well.  One employee shared that when you work for an organization that doesn’t care about you, you begin not to care about yourself.  In contrast, when people notice the good in you, you begin to see it too.

I read about an employee at another organization who had received no appreciation for her contributions and took it upon herself to ask for acknowledgment for her achievements in helping the company reach its goals.  Her boss told her he “didn’t have a natural aptitude” for giving appreciations, but agreed to accept her request and began to thank her and others for their work.  According to the employee who nudged him into recognizing and appreciating his people, he became a great supervisor who “inspired intense loyalty”.

Years ago I had the opportunity to speak with employees who work for O.C. Tanner.  O. C. Tanner’s mission is: “We help organizations appreciate people who do great work. Because celebrating great work inspires people to invent, to create, to discover. And when people are inspired, companies grow.” I was struck by the O.C. Tanner’s employees’ genuine love and appreciation for the organization where they work.  O.C. Tanner practices what they preach and their employees respond with enthusiastic gratitude.

Wouldn’t you like to see these same actions where you work?

When you show that you care about your employees and the people in your life, they will likely care more about the organization and about you.   Let people know they matter to you.  You, and they, will reap tremendous rewards when you do.

Who will you appreciate today?  How will you show that you care?

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