Nurturing a culture of appreciation and encouragement at work is necessary for the success of
any organization. A culture of appreciation exists when leaders make their employees feel
valued in the workplace, and when they recognise their efforts and achievement. Making
gratitude a habit in the workplace gives employees a sense of belonging and also makes them
more likely to show up, share ideas, and collaborate with others.

Benefits of creating a culture of appreciation in the workplace:

● Lack of absenteeism – people will be encouraged to show up to a place where they feel
celebrated
● Easier recruitment – the organization’s reputation will be one that is known for its healthy
environment; therefore being more appealing to employees
● More efficiency – employees are more likely to collaborate with others if they have a
space that encourages them to do so
● Joyful work environment -expressing gratitude for others boosts morale and overall
satisfaction levels

How to Nurture a Culture of Appreciation at Work

1- Celebrate milestones

Recognising an employee’s effort by celebrating their achievements and accomplishments is the
best way to show them that their impact on the business is appreciated. Celebrating when a
coworker reaches a key performance indicator, gets a promotion, closes a deal, or leads a
successful project is an example of celebrating milestones. This also creates a sense of
belonging and unity within the organization, as people get the chance to gather and celebrate
each other.

2- Give regular feedback

Silence can leave people feeling confused. Giving feedback regularly, and praising coworkers
when they deserve it, is a good way to keep coworkers on track. Attempting to create a culture
of appreciation through praise doesn’t mean that you will sugar coat feedback or that you will
avoid giving negative feedback. To give negative feedback, make sure to use the sandwich
method. The sandwich method starts with stating one positive thing, followed by the negative
feedback or the particular aspect you wish to see improvement in, and then ending it with
another positive statement. This shows the employee that you are not only fixated on what’s
going wrong.

3-Encourage employees to share their ideas

Leaving room for coworkers to share their ideas and encouraging them to speak their mind
gives them a feeling of being needed and valued in the workplace. Silencing them or dismissing
their ideas indicates that their input is not valuable. Big meetings can discourage employees
with less outspoken personalities from voicing their opinions, so it’s important to think of
alternative methods to hear their ideas. You can use small breakout rooms, surveys, and
one-on-ones sessions.

4- Give emotional support

If you know that a coworker is going through a difficult time, make sure to offer emotional
support. You can do that by checking in on them, offering to make them lunch, sending them
flowers if they’re grieving, covering for them, or asking them if there’s anything you can do for
them. A small act of kindness during a rough patch can go a long way, and can make them feel
appreciated by you.

5- Give shout outs

People love recognition. Publicly giving shout outs to each other makes people feel satisfied
because they are seen and recognized by others. You can do that by starting an
“encouragement train” for five minutes before every meeting, where you start giving shout outs
or thanking people on your team. You can also send out a weekly bulletin board where people
can submit their shout outs and encouragements for other people. Not only will this build rapport
between colleagues, but it will also motivate people to work harder.

Reflection Questions:

● When was the last time I did something encouraging for someone else?
● Is gratitude a habit in my life?
● How can I take part in creating a positive and encouraging work environment?