Human beings are highly social creatures who respond to social cues. We all want to be appreciated, and we all want to impact others positively.
More often than not, it's the little things that mean the most. Think about how much you appreciate receiving a card or note on your birthday.
It's heartwarming. Of course, gifts and cash still have a role in showing that we care. But the little things - what we call micro-appreciations - can have even more significant impacts. So, what are micro-appreciations?
Micro-appreciations are small gestures that show employees you care about them as humans and value what they bring to the company.
They're usually more about the person and less about what they've achieved. These kinds of gestures can motivate employees and create a united team that feels more like family.
The Macro Benefits of Micro-Appreciations
It's important to recognize employees for their achievements. Those who put in extra work certainly deserve to be rewarded with bonuses, promotions, and other incentives, but that's not what micro-appreciations are about.
They're about showing that every team member is valuable, and you don't have to be the employee of the month to be recognized.
Showing everyday appreciation to employees translates into boosted morale and engagement. That's because employees need both recognition and appreciation. Micro-appreciations and micro-validations foster a positive work environment by providing both of these.
Small gestures will make employees feel good about themselves and their workplace.
These gestures can also strengthen team dynamics and collaboration. For instance, surprising your team with special treats and recognizing their collective efforts to achieve a goal can bolster team spirit and lead to new collaborations.
Unlike recognition that focuses on a single person's performance, appreciations aim to empower everyone by affirming their value in the company.
Addressing Micro-Aggressions
Before we look at how to create a culture of appreciation, let's address micro-aggressions. Micro-aggressions are the exact opposite of micro-appreciations, and they have the opposite effect on your team.
Some managers and supervisors may act aggressively without being aware of it. Other times, it's blatant and intentional. Whichever the case, micro-aggressions work against all the good that micro-appreciations are meant to achieve.
Micro-aggressions can be verbal, non-verbal, or environmental. Verbal cues include dismissive remarks or comments.
Non-verbal cues may involve excluding specific individuals from conversations or activities. Environmental micro-aggressions can be more subtle, but the best illustration is office layouts that alienate particular groups or individuals.
These actions are counter-productive and can actually push employees out of your company to somewhere they feel more welcome and appreciated.
Creating a Culture of Appreciation
Micro-appreciations and micro-validations come from a culture of appreciation where everyone feels valued. Their position or role shouldn't matter. Naturally, employees are aware of their positions and distinctions.
Appreciation is more about personal relationships than professional roles. Creating a culture of appreciation is about encouraging authentic and personalized recognition.
For instance, supervisors can make note of small things, such as an employee who consistently shows up on time and ready to work. Sending them a quick, personalized thank-you note or email acknowledging this commitment can make all the difference.
HR managers can also reward employees with more flexible job schedules to show that you trust them to get their work done. Micro-appreciations should become a natural part of your daily interactions.
As a manager, make it your goal to build authentic relationships with your team. The aim is to recognize and appreciate those you work with.
Friendly greetings and genuine concern for how others are doing are good ways to show that you care. Ultimately, it's the little gestures that result in big impacts. Everything starts with genuine care and respect for all members of your team.
Everyday Micro-Appreciations in Office Life
There are lots of ways to integrate micro-appreciations into everyday office life. And you don't have to break the bank to appreciate your loyal, hardworking employees.
Here are some of the sweet, daily micro-appreciations that you can use to inspire your workforce:
1. Acknowledge Timely Responses and Contributions
If an employee completes a task on time and helps the company achieve its daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly goals, that effort and hard work shouldn't go unrecognized.
A personalized thank-you note or email may be all it takes to show appreciation to the employee. Publicly recognizing them during meetings or team huddles can also help validate their contributions.
2. Praise Specific Tasks or Achievements
Employees should be praised for accomplishing specific tasks or achieving something special. The achievement doesn't even have to be work-related.
For instance, if a new recruit or former intern was the top of their class, recognizing them in front of their coworkers may motivate them to want to work harder for the company. HR managers should make an effort to notice even small efforts and improvements.
3. Offer Small Tokens of Appreciation
Micro-affirmations don't have to be elaborate gestures involving pay slip adjustment and employee benefit packages. Small tokens of appreciation can still have a significant impact on morale and productivity.
How about offering a candy bowl - stocked with all their personal favorites - as a sweet way to show appreciation to your hardworking employees?
4. Surprise Them with Treats or Rewards
There's no shortage of fun and affordable employee appreciation gifts. In fact, you can start with the candy bowl, which is always a sweet gesture.
Who doesn't like a tasty, sugary pick-me-up snack in the middle of the day? Even better if you take note of their go-to choices and keep the bowl full to remind them how much you appreciate their unique contributions.
Conclusion: The Sweetest Way to Show Your Appreciation
Recognition and appreciation don't have to be grand to have an impact on employees. You can show your gratitude with something as simple as name-brand candies and sweets from Deskgoodies to make your employees feel appreciated.
Our candy subscription service plans are fully customizable and offer a convenient, cost-effective way to appreciate employees.
We offer high quality candies and chocolate, so you can get all the popular name-brand options. Hershey's, Starburst, Dum Dums, KitKat ... You name it, we have it!
And with a subscription, you get a fresh supply of candies delivered conveniently to the office every month. Contact us today to find out more about our candy subscription options that will show your employees just how much you appreciate them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do micro-appreciations differ from traditional recognition programs?
Traditional recognition programs involve rewarding employees who perform. This can be limiting because only a few employees are rewarded for excellent performance.
Not everyone can get a promotion or bonus. However, everyone can get an appreciation email or thank-you note for their contributions. Micro-appreciations make it possible to recognize the value of everyone in the company.
Are micro-appreciations effective?
Yes. Micro-appreciations can help boost employee morale, productivity, and engagement. It helps to build a more united workforce with a culture of appreciating everyone for their input.
Micro-appreciation can also be used alongside traditional recognition to create an attractive workplace that motivates employees to stick with the organization. However, the appreciation must come from a genuine place of value and respect for employees.
What are examples of micro-behaviors?
Negative micro-behaviors can have undesired workplace outcomes, such as low morale and high turnover. Examples of micro-behaviors include dismissing junior employees, not thanking people for their service or effort, and selectively nicknaming people.
Others include intentionally mispronouncing names, interrupting juniors mid-sentence, or rolling your eyes when they speak. Such behavior goes against the ultimate goal of micro-appreciations.
List of Micro-Appreciations
- Personalized Thank You Notes
Handwritten notes expressing gratitude for specific contributions or efforts.
- Flexible Work Arrangements
Offer flexibility in work schedules or remote work options when feasible.
- Public Recognition
Acknowledge employees' achievements during team meetings or company-wide emails.
- Wellness Initiatives
Provide wellness perks such as gym memberships, meditation sessions, or wellness days.
- Professional Development Opportunities
Invest in employees' growth through workshops, training sessions, or conferences.
- Celebrate Milestones
Recognize work anniversaries, birthdays, and other personal milestones.
- Employee Feedback Channels
Establish open channels for feedback and suggestions from employees.
- Surprise Treats or Gifts
Surprise employees with small tokens of appreciation like candy bars or coffee vouchers.
- Peer Recognition Programs
Implement programs where employees can nominate their peers for outstanding contributions.
- Employee Appreciation Events
Organize occasional events or outings to celebrate team achievements or milestones.
- Flexible Break Times
Allow employees to take breaks when needed, promoting work-life balance.
- Personal Development Budget
Provide employees with a budget for personal development resources like books or online courses.
- Employee-of-the-Month Recognition
Highlight outstanding employees each month with special recognition and rewards.
- Mentorship Opportunities
Pair employees with mentors within the organization to foster career growth and development.
- Supportive Work Environment
Create a supportive culture where employees feel valued, respected, and heard.