Here’s a not-so-groundbreaking piece of advice: be nice to people. Especially when those people are working tirelessly to make sure your company is successful. Employee appreciation doesn’t (and shouldn’t) need to be a pre-planned, time sensitive, meander from a typical work day. It should be an organic extension of an offices’ culture, something that is effortless and natural.

However, work can be stressful. Work can be time consuming. And work is certainly not always a bed of roses. It’s understandable how a manager can lose sight of things that don’t show up on an invoice or in an email. Office moral carries a heck of a lot more weight than many people realize, and there are plenty of easy ways to show appreciation to employees.

“I’m glad to have you on the team.”

That simple, cost-less phrase can change an employee’s outlook on your leadership, or even simply just ‘make their day’. Robert Denker, a managing partner at r&d Partners, claims “This is one of the most powerful and motivating phrases employees can hear from their boss or superior.” It can remind employees that not only is their work appreciated, but what they bring to the table as a person is what sets them apart.

Another useful tactic is to be specific with your employees when discussing their daily performance. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a quick “Good job today”, but at times it can seem a bit disingenuous and trite. Instead, try to thank them at the end of the day. There’s a world of difference between “good job” and “thank you for your work today!”, and just that little show of appreciation can go a long way.

Everybody enjoys a little break in the monotony of the work week—and here’s a thoughtful way to deal with that. Try to hold weekly “micro-events” that serve to simply spice up the daily routine for your employees. Little things like bringing bagels in the morning or a surprise relaxed dresscode day show that you’re trying to keep things interesting. Even letting everyone take an extra 15 minutes or so on their lunch break can work wonders for office morale.

There really isn’t a wrong way to show your employees that you appreciate their efforts, but there are certainly boring ways. Don’t fall victim to them! Use some of these tactics or make up your own. Just keep in mind, a little will go a long way!

Works Cited:
Mielach, David. “8 Things Bosses Say That Make Workers Happy.”BusinessNewsDaily.com. 29 May 2013. Web. 6 Mar. 2015. .