Appreciation

The holidays are approaching, and one task on my list this month is gifts for my children's teachers. I'm not very creative and, honestly, I'd rather buy a gift card and call it a day. Yet I feel a longing to really show my appreciation and make the gifts more meaningful.

Lots of ideas popped into my head, and then the worry crept in of not having enough time to put the ideas into action. Then I started to rationalize why I don't have enough time: "I'm too busy," I thought. "I work full time, I have three kids under five, and I just don't have the time." Then I thought, "I can just contribute to the class gift. That's why they have a class gift anyway; to make it easier on the parents." But easy doesn't always equate to meaningful.

Look, I know the teachers will appreciate whatever we decide to give them. But the more I reflected on this, I felt the desire to do something special to really show that we care and appreciate all they do for our two children. It's fine to purchase a gift card or contribute to the class gift, but I felt like we could do something more individual and unique to show we put some thought into it.

With the hustle and bustle of the season, most of us tend to run around furiously trying to just get it all done (I know I do!). We don't always take the time to think about the message we send through our actions. Sometimes going that extra step can convey a more meaningful message.

Think about your employees for a moment. Are you putting some extra effort into showing your appreciation to them this holiday season? Do they really feel valued and appreciated? Certainly this is not something to only do during the holidays, yet it's a great time to reflect on the past year and appreciate your team for their hard work and efforts.

There's a lot of talk about engagement in the leadership space, and that's because most organizations don't do much to actively engage their employees. Gallup's research on employee engagement reveals that engagement levels in the United States have been consistently at 32 percent for most of 2015. That means 68 percent of employees in most organizations are either disengaged (sleepwalking or putting in just enough effort to get by) or actively disengaged (unhappy, probably complaining, and negatively impacting your culture).

There are many things organizations can do to increase employee engagement that are beyond the scope of this article. As organizations, we should be doing a better job. But more importantly, as a leader you can have a direct impact on how your employees feel appreciated today.

I'm not suggesting you have to do something extraordinary for each of your employees this holiday season. I am suggesting that you do something a little out of the ordinary. Take a few extra minutes to think about what will make each specific employee feel valued and special. Purchasing the same gift card for each of your staff members will probably be appreciated (and it's better than nothing), but it won't have a lasting effect.

How can you make your appreciation more meaningful? Here are three suggestions:

Write a personalized note. A personalized note of thanks can be a very impactful way for an employee to feel appreciated. The best notes are specific and personalized to the employee. Instead of a blanket statement like, "Thanks for a great year" or "Thanks for your hard work," write a heartfelt note to each employee that details what you appreciate about him or her.

Personalize the gift. If you choose to purchase a gift, put some thought into what might be meaningful to each employee. I remember the Christmas my dad gave my mom the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. She wasn't impressed. She said that gift was something my dad wanted, not what she wanted. I always recall that incident when thinking of gifts for my husband. The gift is more meaningful when you put effort into getting something the receiver wants, not the giver.

One year a manager I had gave me a box of gourmet tea. She knew that I didn't drink coffee, and that I loved tea. That gift was more meaningful than a Starbucks gift card because she had gone out of her way to personalize it and make it special.

Have a conversation. Sometimes the best gift can be time you spend with your employees. If you haven't had a one-on-one conversation with each of your employees in a while, schedule some time to take each employee to coffee (or tea!) or lunch to show your appreciation and connect with them. Ask them how they are doing in their job and what support they need. Talk about their personal and professional goals and how you can help them. Ask about their family. Show interest in each of them as human beings.

Showing your appreciation does take a little time and effort, but the payoff is significant. As leaders, we sometimes need to put more time and effort into the things that can easily get shifted to the back burner.

As for teacher gifts, rather than one gift, I've decided to show our appreciation throughout December by doing something small each week. This week the teachers will get a small jar of homemade granola with a note from each of our children. It will take some more effort on my part, but it's worth it to show them how much we value what they do.

Now I'd love to hear from you. What is your unique way of showing appreciation to your employees? Share your ideas in the comments below.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!

Laurie Maddalena, MBA, CPCC, PHR, is a certified executive coach, leadership consultant and founder of Envision Excellence, LLC  in the Washington, D.C. area. Her mission is to create exceptional cultures by teaching leaders how to be exceptional. Maddalena facilitates management and executive training programs and team-building sessions and speaks at leadership events. Prior to starting her business, she was an HR executive at a $450 million credit union. Contact her at 240.605.7940 or lmaddalena@envisionexcellence.net.