Tis the Season for Saying Thank You

Last week, I attended a Thanksgiving potluck lunch at FHC. It was great to see the effort everyone put in, not only to make it a success but a great team-building event. People were so proud of the foods they had prepared and had fun talking about the special family dishes they were sharing. One employee explained that they got up at 3:00 a.m. to put the ham they brought in the oven so that it would be just right. Everyone was involved, especially upper management, and they expressed their appreciation and thanks for the efforts of everyone.

The last two years have been a challenge for a lot of us. This year, companies may or may not have the resources to hand out large holiday bonuses or gifts as they might have in the past. If they have had great years, and they do, that’s great and Paul Bieber, in his last blog, had a lot of good ideas on how to make it a special event. It is just as important to make sure that those in management sincerely show their gratitude and recognition for the efforts of their staff.

In past blogs, I have quoted from a book “The Power of Thanks” by Eric Mosley and Derek Irvine. Their main theme is that “workers who are thanked for their work have lower turnover, even high performers and people high in the organization. It’s just human nature to enjoy someone saying, ‘thank you.’”

Research shows that people who have been thanked recently rank high in feelings of psychological safety. That benefits other goals like inclusion and belonging. This works both ways – just expressing thanks makes employees feel more positive and engaged. They step out of their professional armor and even become a little vulnerable when they say “thank you.” This is true for suppliers, customers and salespeople calling on your company. Showing them your gratitude will help strengthen relationships and loyalty.

This is a great time of the year to sincerely express your gratitude and recognition for the efforts of your staff, customers and suppliers over the last year. No matter what resources you have to express this, there is nothing like a potluck to bring the team together and let them know how important they are to the company.

I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season and thank you very much for all your comments and support over the year.