On the occasion of the season where gratitude comes into the forefront, permit me to share two good reasons to express appreciation to your colleagues and co-workers. The first is obvious so it will serve as a reminder. Being told by someone that they like the way you handled a sticky situation with a customer or being asked for your input on what to include in a meeting agenda because you are “always clear on what’s the most important thing,” creates a sense of being valued. Feeling valued leads to wanting to engage on the job because of the deeper sense that what you do here, matters.
The second tip comes from behavior management research. When we tell someone what they are doing right (the more specific the better), they build a positive association to that behavior and are more likely to make repeated performances. So if something is working, go ahead and make it a point to let them know. It’s one of the best ways to create a win-win situation.
Each day, try to think of one positive way you can reach out to your co-workers. We would love it if you would share your ideas with us and how they worked.