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Joan Burge's Administrative Blog

Showing Appreciation in the Workplace - Why?

Posted by: Joan Burge on 4/9/2009

Guest Blog entry by Kathy Tosoian, Office Dynamics Certified Trainer & Speaker

Without a doubt, I’ve never heard anyone say they receive way too much appreciation! On the contrary, employees usually complain about NOT receiving the recognition they think they deserve. There are several reasons why people are hesitant to compliment someone on a job well done. Instead of focusing on this, however, let’s take a look at why people should compliment those around them. First, everyone craves appreciation.

Second, if you compliment others on what they’re doing right, they’ll do more of the right thing! We tend to criticize in order to change undesirable behavior, but reality dictates that we should compliment the behavior we want to see more of.

Third, if you want more compliments from the people you work with, you must give more compliments. Be the example you want others to follow. What you give out, you’ll get back. Give it a try!

Kathy Tosoian

Certified Office Dynamics Trainer/Speaker

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16 Comments

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- Apr 09 2009, 2:46 PM Crystal
- It is so important to let people know you appreciate them and their efforts. It can make a world of difference to someone. Thanks for the reminder!
- Apr 09 2009, 3:57 PM Jessica
- This past Tuesday morning we had a great example of this. Several of the design engineers were having difficulty with some software. It was up to our people to figure out how to perform this very diffcult task that even our supplier did not want to take on. All of a sudden, right after the lead and I were discussing the problem and how great it would be if our team could pull this off, one of the other engineers comes in and says, "I did it!" Well, you can imagine the joy! I presented the engineer with one of my gold star stickers from my achievement journal I received at IAAP PEC. (Which is also kind of funny, because I usually give my guys "verbal" gold stars, and this time I actually had one!). It was a great way to start the day; the team was excited and it boosted morale.
- Apr 09 2009, 4:45 PM Judith Peer
- I am a firm believer in "what goes around, comes around". When you show appreciation to your fellow workers, you will find that same appreciation returning to you day after day. Appreciation shown to an individual makes the person feel good and boosts their morale, but it also conveys the respect that you have for them and their contributions. When my supervisor shows his appreciation for my work, it always makes me feel I have accomplished something, but it also makes me want to do more and to do it better. What better effect could an employer seek at little or no cost to the company?
- Apr 09 2009, 5:23 PM Brenda L. Mason CPS/CAP, CWCA
- I let everyone know that they should be a one minute manager. It only takes one minute to thank someone for a job well done. We should praise others in public instead of private. This will help boost self-esteem in others and production will also have a great impact.
- Apr 09 2009, 5:55 PM Alice
- Great idea! I think that everyone deserves to know how appreciated they are.
- Apr 09 2009, 5:56 PM Olivia
- Kindness and appreciation go hand-in-hand. It is in our DNA to want good feedback and a pat on the back . Today's world can be quite callous and it's great to soften it with a smile and a nice word. Olivia
- Apr 09 2009, 7:02 PM Jasmine
- Great comments today, again! I know I certainly feel like I accomplish more on days when I feel praised and of course, I feel better about my own self when I am providing well-deserved praise to others - at work and at home.
- Apr 09 2009, 9:01 PM Debbie Nash
- Showing and acknowledging others in the workplace reinforces positive energy. With all the stresses individuals face in the business climate today it is helpful to be acknowledged for the good work done. Appreciation doesn't have to be nominal; it can be a simple thank you, good job, etc. All of this contributes to a positive workplace.
- Apr 09 2009, 9:36 PM LuvBeingAdmin
- I will offer out more compliments as I feel that most of my efforts go unrecognized.
- Apr 10 2009, 1:34 PM Janice
- Great entry! Indeed it is so very important to let people know that their efforts are seen and appreciated. It is way too easy for so many of us to complain. I love that you mention compliments encouraging more of the good. Thanks!
- Apr 10 2009, 8:14 PM Laura
- I agree, it is wonderful to be acknowledged and I always remember how that feels so I go out of my way to acknowledge and praise others who go out of their way or do a great job.
- Apr 12 2009, 4:23 PM Vickie Jennings
- I think it is very important to show appreciation in the workplace. Not only should you show appreciation to the hardest working person, you should also show appreciation to those who tries the hardest to make the workplace better.
- Apr 13 2009, 3:20 AM Joan Burge
- Hi Kathy! Thanks for this great reminder and one that is especially important in this day and age. As always, you give a wonderful message. I'm so thankful that you have been a part of the Office Dynamics team for more than 12 years!
- Apr 13 2009, 6:24 PM Tiffini Satterlee
- We have some great recognition tools at our company, and I always take full advantage of them. Once I recognized a VP's, admin, and the VP called me up and said that "Recognition is a leadership quality, and I'm glad to see that you already practice that." So recognition is not only good for the person who gets it, but the person who lives it.
- Apr 15 2009, 6:12 PM jessig
- On my employee's date of hire I would display a banner over their doorway recognizing their time with us. On birthdays, always a hand crafted card. A small trinket but always remembered! I try once a week to carry ten tiny gold coins in my trouser pocket. Each time I compliment someone, I move a coin to the other pocket. When my coins are all moved to the other pocket, I know that I paid attention to my co-workers and staff and was an active listener myself! Complimenting and recognition when due can go hand in hand!
- Feb 08 2010, 10:26 AM Theresa
- From the responses to this blog, I can see that this is a common issue that many of us face in the workplace. I have worked in various office environments with many different managers and co-workers and found that it common to experience receiving minimal, if any, comments of appreciation or acknowledgment of a job well done. I have experienced that people are quick to point out what I have done wrong and not acknowledging the things that I have successfully accomplished. It can be discouraging to say the least. I will admit that I am one who thrives on a "pat on the back" or some acknowledgement of my efforts, but I am a true believer that taking the effort to compliment or say "thank you" to anyone in the work place goes along way and leaves a sense of goodwill and good work relationships.

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