Building or promoting an appreciative corporate culture is worthwhile at all levels. But what exactly is appreciation and how can you express it?
Appreciation – a central need
Appreciation is a central need of employees. They want to be seen and recognized for who they are, what they do and how they do it. Appreciation is often equated with praise and recognition of performance, which is not sufficient in the definition of the actual meaning.
Appreciation is much more – it is a matter of the heart and an attitude that always sees the person and not just their earnings. It is based on a fundamental, inner attitude towards yourself and others. Only if you adopt a positive, appreciative attitude can you also appreciate other people and pass on attention, recognition and respect.
“Appreciation desert” company
Many companies are a veritable “desert of appreciation and recognition”. A large number of studies and internal employee surveys confirm this state of affairs in companies. If employees do not feel sufficiently recognized and valued as human beings, their emotional attachment to their employer decreases as a result. This increases demotivation and dissatisfaction, which in turn reduces productivity and puts a strain on the working atmosphere. At the same time, the risk of illness also increases.
It is the fundamental, deeper meaning of genuine appreciation that makes it so difficult for many managers and companies to interpret it in a way that goes beyond evaluating and rewarding performance, thereby reducing appreciation to a “numerical value”. Of course, this does not make performance-related salaries and reward systems superfluous. Any manager who senses savings here is on the wrong track.
Most managers now realize that rational thinking and action as well as professional expertise alone are not enough to lead employees or build lasting customer loyalty. Genuine appreciation is linked to respect, goodwill and recognition and is expressed, among other things, in interest, attentiveness, approachability and friendliness. Knowing this does not mean that you have internalized it – and that makes the big difference between truly lived appreciation and a “rehearsed program”.
Strengthen your inner attitude
In addition to the external framework conditions, the direct superior plays a decisive role. The lower your personal self-esteem, the greater your own need for recognition and the less willing you are to give recognition to others. Those who do not value themselves will also apply this negative standard to others. The first step towards appreciative interaction with others: If you want to give genuine appreciation and bring more humanity to your team and the company, you have to be prepared to rethink, move out of your own comfort zone and be prepared as a manager to walk the path together with your employees.
Giving genuine appreciation
Genuine appreciation regards people as personalities who are already valuable due to their abilities, their individual potential and their uniqueness. Carelessly lavished praise according to the watering can principle has the exact opposite effect, because people usually sense the manipulation or the intention behind it.
Honest appreciation is always individual and emotional. It is not based on empty phrases, but refers precisely to the person addressed and/or their performance with specific feedback. You can also show appreciation by taking time for someone, being attentive and listening to their needs.
Authentic appreciation comes from within and shows on the outside. It is also through the small gestures that make a big difference: a look at eyelevel, really listening, a friendly nod of the head, an open smile, an interested question, a small surprise or a short email with thanks or congratulations.
Dressing appropriately for the occasion also shows appreciation, because it conveys “You are worth me thinking about and I am also worth taking care of myself”.
Even small improvements in encounters, non-verbal and verbal communication can convey appreciation. Furthermore, the acceptance of people’s differences and a respectful and polite tone form the basis of every human corporate culture. “Clear in the matter, emphatic with people” is the motto here.
Appreciation pays off
The effort will be worth it, because managers who convey and exemplify true appreciation will noticeably improve the working atmosphere in the long term. Productivity increases due to greater motivation and loyalty among employees. Studies have already shown that this results in reduced absenteeism due to mental or physical illness. The entire company benefits from this.
What’s more, employees transfer their enthusiasm to the company’s customers and also become positive brand ambassadors in their private lives. They play a key role in shaping the company’s image in society and nothing is more convincing than employees – and customers – who feel emotionally connected and report positive things about the company. Appreciation for oneself and others therefore pays off at all human and operational levels.
by Christine Maurer-Rödig, trainer at Lorenz-Seminare