Friday 3rd March is #EmployeeAppreciationDay...
I have to say, as with love your pets day, isn’t every day the day to appreciate your team and the work they do?
Showing appreciation, saying thank you, and generally showing an interest in every individual you work with should be the norm, and it’s absolutely essential for creating a positive and productive work environment.
A team that feels valued and appreciated is way more likely to be engaged, motivated, and committed to achieving the business goals and your long-term vision. When team members feel appreciated, they are way more likely to feel satisfied with their job and committed to their work. They are also more likely to feel connected to their team mates, which will improve the way they collaborate and work together.
By contrast, when team members feel undervalued or unappreciated, there’s a very good chance that they will disengage and they’ll almost certainly be less productive, which not only affects the team, but also your bottom line!
Acknowledging your team’s hard work and achievements, celebrating milestones like birthdays and work anniversaries, and praising them for the progress they’re making towards their goals will help them feel both recognised and valued as individuals. And it doesn’t have to mean extra effort for you.

It can be as simple as public recognition during a team meeting, a quick word or message to say thanks for a job well done, or maybe small gestures like tickets to an event or a team lunch.
Of course one of the best ways to appreciate your team is by giving them opportunity to grow and develop; training them in a new area, giving them the chance to work on a challenging project, or even just giving them regular feedback and coaching. By investing in your team’s growth, you not only help them build their skills and knowledge but also show that you value their contributions and want to help them succeed.
All of this helps to create a culture of appreciation within your team. They see your example, and it motivates them to show gratitude and appreciation for one another too.
You want appreciation to be a regular part of your team’s interactions, not just a one-off event.
When we appreciate those we work with it strengthens our relationships, builds greater trust, and creates a really positive, and fun, team environment. And of course, all of this leads to greater success for your business, the team, and every individual in it!
What’s not to love about that?!
Have a look at our infographic below to see how different levels of enagement will affect the productivity in your team: