How To Build A Happier Workforce
Our work lives have a monumental impact on our wellbeing, so creating happy, healthy workplaces is nothing short of essential for good mental health. And in our (vast and sizeable) experience, one of the most effective ways to increase workplace happiness is through the tenets of appreciation and recognition.
Improving employee wellbeing doesn’t have to be complicated or costly; people thrive in positive cultures, and you can make a profound difference to someone’s mental health simply by fuelling that culture through positive reinforcement.
Why appreciation matters
It’s absolutely vital that people feel valued and appreciated at work; otherwise, you risk creating an unhappy, unproductive, stressed out workforce. This is especially true at the moment as people are having to contend with an awful lot in their lives out of work: trying to juggle the demands of work with wider worries.
Nobody likes to feel that their work isn’t making a difference, or that it goes unnoticed, so showing your employees that you recognise their efforts and are grateful for all they do helps them to feel far more engaged; this in turns increases productivity, inspires loyalty, and motivates them to keep up the good work in future.
Practising gratitude also helps to build a really healthy culture in the workplace; one of positivity and appreciation; where hard work is rewarded, people are prized, and colleagues congratulate one another on their successes.
After all, your people are your most valuable asset; so make sure they know it.
How to show appreciation in the workplace
Making recognition standard practice – rather than reserving it for special occasions – will help your employees to feel valued all the year through.
A simple thank you goes a long way, but if you want a little more inspiration for ways to build appreciation into your working day, consider:
1. Celebrating personal growth, as well as targets
2. Formalising your thank-yous into a monthly rewards and recognition scheme
3. Shouting out achievements in your weekly planning huddle
4. Identifying the specific actions you appreciated about a job well done
5. Finding out how people like to receive recognition ahead of time
6. Voicing your recognition and appreciation in meetings
7. Building a culture around celebrating small wins
8. Setting up a nomination system, so colleagues can get in on the act
9. Rewarding good work with a clear roadmap to promotion
10. Writing unexpected thank you notes
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PRACTICE APPRECIATION
Research tells us that 80% of employees are happiest at work if they feel appreciated. But as well as boosting employee satisfaction, showing gratitude and appreciation can improve your own mental health, and pave the way for greatness.
When we practise appreciation:
1. We flex our creativity: When we recognise the work of others, research shows that we actually become 33% more innovative; a must for any leader.
2. We grow in gratitude: When you look for ways to recognise your people, you really start to notice and appreciate the great work they do.
3. Our mood improves: Focusing on the positives has a real impact on our overall wellbeing.
4. Our relationships strengthen: Recognition builds trust, which in turn creates stronger, healthier, more supportive working relationships.
5. You inspire greatness: 88% of people who receive recognition feel inspired to do great work; that’s admirable leadership right there.
So as well as supporting the mental wellbeing of your workers, practising appreciation in the workplace can make leaders feel far happier, too. And that’s something we’ll always support.
