WorldWide Drilling Resource

Taking Time to Appreciate Employees Adapted from Information by Fierce, Inc. There seems to be a hol- iday dedicated to celebrating everything under the sun: “Star Wars Day” is May 4 th , “Eat a RedApple Day” is December 1 st , and EmployeeAppreciation Day is coming March 3 rd . While taking a day to honor Star Wars and red apples can be fun, some things - such as hard-working employees - should be honored more than just one day each year. While recognition rewards and programs like Employee Appreciation Day can be useful, organizations shouldn’t forget the importance of frequent feedback and honest communica- tion. Instead of rewarding “big wins” on a certain day, man- agers should acknowledge contributions on a regular basis. Sincere praise creates highly productive work environments, builds strong relationships, and serves as a great motivator. Managers can show their appreciation to team members year-round in three easy ways: k Stay up to date. Stop delaying, avoiding, postponing, or rescheduling feedback. In fact, don’t let more than 48 hours go by when an issue arises. Avoiding a difficult conversation about performance will only result in a laundry list of complaints, causing the recipient to want to make a run for the exit. Make things easier and much more productive by addressing issues as they arise in a short and sweet manner, free of any emotional load. Rule of thumb: if a manager has more than three positive or negative examples of employee be- havior to communicate, this conversation is long overdue. k Praise publicly, coach privately. Be generous and specific with praise, but don’t get overly gushy or take up too much time. Acknowledgement should include the observable behavior, where it took place, when it took place, and most importantly, what changed or was produced for the better. If the issue is negative, pull the employee aside. Keep employees’ feelings in mind - if the conversation could reflect poorly on their work or reputation, discuss the issue in private. k Ask for feedback. One of the best ways to acknowledge employees’ efforts is to turn the tables and ask for their feedback on a high-stakes decision. More than anything, employees - especially Millennials - want to play an active role in their organization. Giving them an occasional opportunity to participate at a deeper level not only improves decisions, but also expresses appreciation for the employees’ dedica- tion and commitment to the company. Appreciating employees is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to enrich connections and foster a positive workplace culture. Recognition can mo- tivate and inspire employees, leading to higher retention rates, greater job satis- faction, and better bottom lines. Showing appreciation is much more than a once- a-year event; it’s a core component of good management. Employee Appreciation Day Friday, March 3 33 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® MARCH 2017