First off, I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Second, I want to spend a moment on the importance of saying “thank you” to those who work for you.
Lolly Daskal, president and CEO of Lead from Within, cited a study discussed on Inc.com that showed more than one-third of workers felt unappreciated and were looking for new jobs. She said there was a direct connection in this study between workers’ intent to look for a new job and the level of recognition they received at work.
With this in mind, she suggests several simple ways to say thank you to those who work for you:
- Say something nice. “Be personal and specific,” Daskal suggests. “Set time aside; don’t make it an afterthought on your way to doing something else.”
- Be consistent. Saying thanks regularly can translate into people working harder, she says.
- Expand your thanks. A number of talented, hardworking members of your team might already receive a lot of praise, she writes. “Include team members who get less recognition; it might be that a little appreciation is all that they need to flourish,” she says.
- Release dopamine. Daskal says hearing something we like causes a chemical reaction in our brains – “a burst of dopamine” – that is associated with feelings of joy and satisfaction.
During this holiday season, say “thank you” to your hardworking staff. A staff that knows it is appreciated is more motivated and engaged – a great benefit to you and your organization.
