Appreciation in Action: Are You Doing Enough to Recognise Your Team?

"Appreciation boosts job satisfaction and engagement. Recognise team members daily to build a positive, productive culture. How do you show appreciation at work?"

Appreciation in Action: Are You Doing Enough to Recognise Your Team?

Boost Job Satisfaction and Productivity Through Appreciation

Did you know that 87% of employees feel that meaningful recognition and appreciation increase job satisfaction? When you genuinely appreciate others, you not only lift them up but also enhance their engagement, creativity, and productivity. Feeling valued helps people invest more in their work—and in you.

Why Appreciation Matters in the Workplace

Appreciation goes beyond a simple “thank you.” It’s about recognising people as individuals and valuing what they uniquely contribute. People want to work with others who make them feel genuinely seen and appreciated.

  • Engagement and Retention: Recognised employees are more likely to be happy, committed, and collaborative.
  • Creativity and Productivity: Appreciation inspires people to bring their best ideas forward, enhancing creativity and output.

Practising Genuine Appreciation: How to Make It Meaningful

To truly appreciate others, be attentive and empathetic to the skills, efforts, and even the challenges they face. Show people that you value their ideas—even if those ideas aren’t always implemented.

Appreciating others means being fully present and focused, listening deeply, and acknowledging their unique qualities. Remember, it’s about appreciating the human being in front of you, not just the results they achieve.

Inspiration for Becoming More Appreciative

“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.”

Epictetus, Ancient Greek philosopher

Daily and Weekly Habits of Appreciation

Don’t wait for formal feedback sessions. Start building a daily and weekly habit of appreciation for your team members and colleagues. Here are some simple ways to integrate appreciation into your routine:

  1. Acknowledge Efforts Daily
    Recognise successes in the moment—they don’t have to be major wins.
  2. Send a Quick Thank-You
    Write a thank-you note, text, or even tag them in a social media post. A simple acknowledgment goes a long way.
  3. Use Video to Express Appreciation
    Sending a short, personal video message can be more impactful than a written note.
  4. Give Public Thanks
    Appreciate your team publicly in meetings or on platforms like Slack or Teams to show you value their hard work.
  5. Promote Recognition Upward
    Highlight team members’ achievements to senior colleagues—recognition from higher-ups can be especially motivating.

Appreciation Programs and Ideas to Get You Started

  • Offer extra time off for hard work
  • Buy lunch for your team or hold a team lunch
  • Start a monthly reward system
  • Host an annual awards ceremony with personalised categories for everyone
  • Begin each meeting with a round of appreciations

By developing habits of appreciation, you’ll foster a culture where people feel recognised and motivated. Start small, be consistent, and make appreciation part of your work culture every day.

4D Personal Profile Series

We’re thrilled to introduce the latest 4D OnDemand Series: the Personal Profile Series. Focusing on self-reflection and what it means to be good to work with, this series offers the perfect training solution for you, your team, and your organisation. It provides the language, tools, and tips to help you take control of your personal and professional narrative—both in person and online—so that the way you present yourself, and how others perceive you, maximises your opportunities, connections, and success.

Explore our training programmes on Confidence and Impact, Leadership Development, and Executive Coaching to help you make a lasting impression today.

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With love,
The 4D Team x