Appreciation wins at work

As young children, praise guides and develops our principles for life – teaching us the difference between right and wrong and encouraging us to shoot for the stars. Remember when you got a good grade in school and the first thing you wanted to do was run home and tell your parents? Or when you’d finally saved up enough to get your first car and the first thing you wanted to do was drive to your friend’s house and show them? How did it feel to get that pat on the back, to be told well done, or hear the excitement in your friend’s voice as you pulled up?

Proud? Excited? Motivated? Maybe you felt on top of the world! There are many words you could use and the likelihood is that we’d all describe the feeling slightly differently, but however you choose to describe it, it’s likely to be rooted in positive emotion. It’s important to remember that it’s not just children who grow with praise; as adults we do too. Of course, that praise will look and feel different. You may not find yourself physically jumping up and down in celebration as frequently, but we still experience that pleasure when someone recognises our efforts and achievements.

"The deepest craving of human nature is the craving to be appreciated" - William James

When it comes to work, appreciation is key. An example of appreciation is financial reward, in the form of salary and bonuses. But we're wired to need something beyond this - arguably, something more human and personable. Indeed, research has demonstrated that people highly value personalised recognition for their work, regarding it as extremely important for their overall sense of reward. And while there is a plethora of surveys carried out by various organisations, with wildly different results around just how appreciated people feel at work, there is a general consensus that there’s just not quite enough of it taking place. And for the minimal effort it takes, the return on investment of a little praise can be substantial.

As an individual (whether you're a manager, leader, or non-leader), you can have a significant impact by taking the time to recognise the achievements of your colleagues; it not only makes them feel good but it will have a wider effect on the culture. Your actions can boost morale and motivation, creating an environment where people feel confident and valued, and who will seek to build others up too.

The inner workings of appreciation

Emotions are incredibly contagious; positivity fosters positivity. When you recognise the success of others, it creates a positive feedback loop of positive thinking which can boost your own self-esteem, energy levels and confidence. There is plenty of evidence to show that people who celebrate others are more grateful, happier and have lower stress levels. Furthermore, actively looking for opportunities to celebrate others will allow you to learn new things, identify alternate paths to achieving your own goals and develop bonds with others. Therefore, recognising your colleagues’ efforts also helps you increase the likelihood of your own success!

"Celebrate the success of others. High tide floats all ships." - Susan Elizabeth Philips

1. Think Small

Success doesn’t have to be a significant event, such as exceeding targets or getting a promotion. Less obvious achievements may deserve recognition, too. Perhaps your colleague has learnt a new skill, gave time to support a new employee, or simply consistently produces good work. Look out for your colleagues’ smaller successes and celebrate them as you would for the bigger ones.

2. Be mindful

There are many ways to celebrate others but be mindful of your colleagues’ preferences. Someone who's introverted isn’t likely to enjoy a moment where all eyes are on them, and it's not a great idea to gift a bottle of wine to a person who doesn’t drink alcohol. The key is to understand your colleagues and what motivates them, that way you can celebrate appropriately, fairly and with lasting impact.

3. Be authentic

Celebrating others is a great way to strengthen bonds and build relationships. Being authentic in your tone and delivery of celebration will make you stand out from a crowd of superficial support. People are able to tell who really means it! If they’ve posted their achievement on social media, why not inbox them a congratulatory message instead of just being another comment lost on the thread?

Celebrating others has a positive impact on everybody involved and it is because of our individual contributions that a team can share in group accomplishments. We need each other to succeed, and celebration is unifying!