Thanksgiving... More than a Holiday!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and it’s the perfect opportunity to talk about intentional gratitude as a part of employee engagement.

Many business leaders are aware that they should thank employees for their efforts, but it’s important to go beyond a standard “thank you for your efforts” statement. Much like the obligatory round-table at Thanksgiving dinner where everyone says what they’re thankful for that year, those canned expressions of gratitude can feel insincere.

Giving thanks in a sincere and authentic way has three parts:

1 Get specific. What are you thanking employees for?

Did the project team stay late and work weekends to meet a deadline?

Did a team stay on the road for longer than expected?

Did someone come up with a great idea?

2 Tap into the “why.” WHY are you so grateful for that team or person’s actions?

Did it make a great impression on a customer?

Did it save the company money?

Did it improve the way you work?

3 No matter the reason, it’s important to let employees know.

Keep it casual by sending them an email, giving them a call, or stopping by to thank them in person.

Or make a big deal about it by getting their story featured in a newsletter or celebrating the accomplishment at a staff meeting.

Those efforts on a leader’s part will do wonders for making employees feel valued and that their work matters, and those feelings will translate into stronger team members.

If you’re looking for more ways to get specific with your the way you express gratitude at your workplace, check out the Appreciation at Work website. There, you can learn about personalizing appreciation according to people’s individual preferences based on The 5 Love languages.

How can your business and leaders be more strategic or wholistic about the way you express appreciation at your workplace?

If you're not sure or are looking for support in that area, contact Gordeaux today! Gordeaux can help you with employee engagement surveys to find out what your employees need, tailored recognition programs to help your business celebrate hard work, and newsletter formats to regularly celebrate your team!