Gratitude matters. Yet Gallup research says only three in ten U.S. employees say they’ve received recognition or praise for doing good work in the last week.
In organizations that value speed, performance and productivity, it’s easy to see how common thank-yous and acknowledgement can fall by the wayside. Emails are short. Folks are direct. A lot gets done.
But forgetting to express sincere gratitude to the people you work with can directly impact company culture, employee engagement and even retention. In fact, Gallup’s study says that when employees don’t feel adequately recognized, they’re twice as likely to say they’ll quit in the next year.
Simple recognition goes a long way. A Glassdoor study shares that 81 percent of employees say they’re motivated to work harder when their boss shows appreciation for their work. McKinsey & Company research suggests that praise by immediate managers is even more motivating than some financial rewards.
In communications departments, gratitude can be a case of the “shoemaker’s children not having shoes.” As fast-moving, behind-the-scenes comms pros, we’re under pressure to offer consult, quickly craft messages and content, secure high-level signoffs and seamlessly get work out the door. We spend our days (and many nights!) championing the work of others. It becomes easy to forget to express gratitude to our team members and business partners beyond a passing “thx!” We think, “Of course they know I appreciate them!”
An intense pace and a high-performing culture is no excuse.
As communications leaders, we understand and value employee engagement. To foster an engaged culture, we must model the behavior we want our organizations to adopt. The absence of gratitude – or gratitude expressed infrequently, insincerely, or vaguely – can send employees the message that they aren’t appreciated, when most times that’s far from the truth.
Comms leaders can start by starting. Thank the AV team that produces your quarterly town hall meeting. Jot a quick thank-you note for the admin who expedited your press release signoff. Recognize the facilities folks who set up the room during your next speaker event. Swing by and personally acknowledge the graphics team that jumped through hoops to pull an ad or presentation together. Tweet praise to your social peeps. The same goes for your agency partners. This is the village that keeps your comms on track every day.
Similar opportunities hold true for leadership notes, video scripts, meeting talking points and company-wide emails. Most likely, the employees in your organization are working hard to deliver your leader’s objectives. Encourage your leader to thank them. Even when a leader has bad news to share, find ways to praise employees for their patience, their fortitude or their candor.
As comms leaders, we’re constantly communicating – on our own behalf, or on behalf of others. If you want an engaged culture, it’s important to regularly recognize others in formal and informal ways. Gratitude goes far, and you’ll see a difference in your organization -and the teams you work with – if you express it sincerely and often.
