The psychological effects of employee appreciation at the workplace
The science of ‘appreciation’ is really simple. It has the capacity to change and strengthen the brain in remarkably positive ways. Studies have shown that positive emotions correlate with effective immune system function, which likely affects the ability to fight diseases that can lead to fewer absences and sick days for employees. In this article, we examine the importance of appreciation in the workplace with respect to their impact on employee satisfaction and productivity.
Apart from its positive effects, appreciation in the workplace also promotes psychological safety. Appreciation also influences the attitude of others, as support from superiors and colleagues leads to increased satisfaction in interpersonal relationships at the workplace. A supportive work culture, rooted in the habit of giving appreciation also contributes towards employee well-being – by providing a positive environment for employees who experience mental illness such as depression and anxiety; especially in the current pandemic times.
Can appreciation bring about behavioural change?
Here’s an interesting approach to comprehend the impact of employee appreciation. Consider this, neighbor 1- Alex and family who have a child named Ron, age 8 year old vs neighbor 2- Rahul and family who also have a child named, Rohan, the same age as Ron. They both go to the same school in the vicinity. Alex’s family is focusing on learning and growing the kid and appreciates their son for every little task he does. Be it a small win, they appreciate and celebrate the moment when Ron tries something new even if he is slower at picking up things, their approach is to motivate Ron to complete the task and always be ready to learn something new. On the other hand, Rohan is a bright child with superb creative skills and does amazingly well at school. He is always amongst the top graders, but his family is still not convinced and pushes him to strive to get 100% results. They have stopped all of his extracurricular activities for him to focus on his studies.
As you would agree, the impact of the approach in upbringing on both the children works differently. Ron who is an average kid and a slow learner but appreciated for his work turns out to grow more confident and an enthusiastic learner with a never giving up approach whereas, on the other hand, Rohan despite being a talented kid turns out to be under-confident as he is more focused towards perfection. The non-recognition resulted in him doubting himself even after achieving more.
The same psychology plays out at the workplace where an employee who is never appreciated or recognized for his/her efforts, in turn, doubts his capabilities and may resist trying something new.
So the question to ask ourselves is, how often do we appreciate our employees or colleagues for their efforts?
Appreciation may seem a small thing but often neglected and we don’t try hard enough to make it a habit. A great way to recognize your subordinate or to promote peer-to-peer recognition is to have a centralized social recognition platform like Buzzz that allows you to recognize anyone from anywhere through text, audio and even video messages. The recognition is visible to everyone across the platform in the organization where others can interact by liking and commenting on the post. This tool gives the power to make the recognition more prominent and visible for everyone to see the great efforts put by an employee and also motivate others to achieve more.
Let’s find some ways to express appreciation to those who really should hear about it, as well as some of the benefits of appreciation in the workplace. Here we unpack the psychology behind appreciation by explaining how it works and explore some tips on how to cultivate it not just for ourselves but also for others.
1. Appreciating changes the giver, not just the receiver
Appreciation is not only about the impact you have on others, but also about yourself. If you take your appreciation seriously, you will see the positive impact it can have on your mental health. Appreciation of the workplace has a huge impact on a person’s happiness and wellbeing. Even when you feel self-conscious, the positive effects of expressing appreciation to an individual can outweigh any passing sense of embarrassment. Expressing appreciation and expressing it in the form of a positive comment, such as a smile, a hug or even a handshake, is a great way to ensure that your appreciation is conveyed e sincerely and genuinely.
2. It boosts productivity
People who feel valued experience greater self-esteem and thus increase their satisfaction with their work and their ability to contribute to the company. This also has an impact on how employees see their role in their work environment, as those who have received rewards & recognition feel valued and happier in the workplace, which in turn leads to a stronger relationship between employees and the people they work with and feel better about their company. Whether you thank a stranger for holding the door or sending a thank you note, recognizing other people’s contributions can also lead to new opportunities.
3. Encourage employees to go out of their comfort zone
While appreciating if the giver does not express in a meaningful way and if the receiver does not feel like his/her sense of self-esteem grew, then such an appreciation will become yet another tick box that managers can tick and continue to stay detached from the employees’ performance. Appreciation has the power to infuse confidence that cannot be taken away, as we saw in the Ron and Rohan example above. Appreciation at the workplace not only motivates employees but also encourages them to go out of their comfort zone and they certainly will then try to achieve more.
Appreciation means the world to employees, especially at times when they learn a new task and may make personal sacrifices to get the job done. And sometimes a pat on the back is simply not enough. If you use techniques that encourage the expression of appreciation in the form of gratitude, everyone will feel appreciated and positive, turning daily stress into a daily grin. Providing a culture that encourages appreciation can promote positive mental health and produce happier employees, as demonstrated by the fact that many employees and managers agreed that showing appreciation in the workplace is extremely motivating and boosts team spirit.
5. Steadily it becomes a habit or culture
You don’t have to be an expert in emotional intelligence to show gratitude and appreciation in the workplace. Before looking at the psychology of recognition of workers, try practicing on a smaller level as it helps to understand some of the proven benefits of appreciation for employees. The saying ‘preach before you teach’ fits well here- before asking your employees to express their gratitude and appreciate their colleague’s efforts, it is important for leaders to practice this by saying thank you for the job done and express how grateful they are to have them in the company. Slowly and steadily you can see it becoming a part of employees’ habit and sooner will be a part of strong work culture.
If you don’t focus on showing appreciation to your employees and only on compensation, chances are they will view your efforts as disingenuous. Simply asking staff how they want to be recognized is a great way to make formal recognition processes more meaningful and personal.
As an organization’s HR leader or team manager, the most important thing is to find reasons to be grateful and to remain open to appreciate everything, no matter how small it may seem. Even on the worst days, it is gratitude that we find in ourselves to realize that a bad day must come to an end. Offer reassuring and affirming words of appreciation and gratitude to your employees when they deserve it. Whether you write a handwritten note, email or comment, employees know that their hard work is being recognized and that it will make them happier, healthier and more productive. They will do their best to be recognized and know that you are an appreciative employer, even if it is only for a moment.
If you are an employee, you can create your own grassroots movement of gratitude by expressing your appreciation and encouraging your colleagues to do the same.
