An Attitude of Gratitude Boosts Your Workplace Culture
Everyone wants to feel appreciated, valued, and recognized. Studies have shown that appreciation (or the absence of it) directly impacts employee performance and retention. “The Last Lecture” author Randy Pausch said, “Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
This is a theme of ours at Bradley-Morris/RecruitMilitary. In fact, every Monday morning our CEO, Tim Best, creates a short, informal “shoutout” video from his desk recognizing employee achievements and those who have garnered praise during the past week. Whether it’s closing a big sale, exceptional customer service, or the fantastic job that a new employee is doing, the video helps those of us who work remotely to feel connected and part of the team. It raises morale and brings a positive vibe to the Monday morning grind.
“One of Bradley-Morris and RecruitMilitary’s organizational values is that we are all on the same team, and it’s imperative that we celebrate the wins as a team,” said Best. “At the end of each week, I ask each department head to provide me with a big win from their team – someone who went above and beyond the call of duty.”
Appreciation is one of the cornerstones of some of the America’s top companies. A Glassdoor survey showed that culture and values are the biggest driver of employee satisfaction, with career opportunities and senior leadership coming in second. Other studies have found that appreciation is one of the strongest motivators around.
Employees also respond well to being singled out for their efforts. In fact, 81% will work harder, and more than half of employees said they would remain with their employer longer if they felt more gratitude from their bosses.
“More than 50 percent of our employees are remote,” Best added. “It’s important that they feel ‘in the know’ about the activities happening company-wide that are contributing to our success as a team. It helps us to emulate the talk around the water cooler or breakroom for remote employees.”
Susana Mendez served for five years in the U.S. Navy and worked in several civilian roles before landing at Bradley-Morris/RecruitMilitary and moving up the ladder to become its Director of Client Support, garnering accolades and awards along the way.
“While in the military, I would often be told that I did a great job. Sometimes our leaders would recognize one of us for our hard work during weekly meetings, and we would applaud them. It always made that person feel appreciated for their hard work. It boosted morale and made us give our best,” said Mendez. “Recognition whether big or small goes a long way in keeping your team motivated and having pride in the work they do.”
“I find that when employees feel valued and acknowledged, it makes their level of productivity rise. Our regular acknowledgement of employees is key to Bradley-Morris and RecruitMilitary being a world-class organization to work for,” said Best.
by: Katie Becker