JS Tip 567: What Day is Today?

Valentine’s Day. Love. Caring. Appreciation. 

Appreciation.

Hollie Doyle points out that the Boston Consulting Group surveyed 200,000 workers on employee satisfaction. (That’s a lot of workers.) 

Overwhelmingly, the top reason for satisfaction: receiving appreciation for their work. Even in the most difficult of jobs, when someone says, “I appreciate you,” it makes a difference. 

We suggest four elements in the appreciation. All begin with an S. The appreciation should be—

• Speedy: As close as possible to the cited behavior. To paraphrase, “Appreciation delayed is appreciation denied.” When you see someone doing something well, seize the moment and express appreciation.

• Sincere: It’s gotta be real. It can’t be faked. A glib appreciation (“Hey! Thank you for everything!”) leads (at least) to the thought, “Hey. Don’t patronize me.”

• Specific: Specificity adds to sincerity. Specificity adds authenticity. “Megan, I noticed how you handled that angry customer—what?—three minutes ago. You were kind and patient. When he left, he wasn’t angry anymore. He was smiling. You did a great job.”

• Short: Don’t drone. Respect the other person’s time. The appreciation for Megan (up there) takes less than twenty seconds, yet by its shortness gains power.

We love this stuff. We appreciate you. We’re grateful for your opening the Tips, some of you for more than ten years. Thank you. 

And remember to get your sweetheart a card.