9 Simple Ways You Can Show Appreciation

Everyone wants to feel appreciated. For many, appreciation is just saying thank you. But appreciation only begins with saying thanks. True appreciation is not only recognizing someone’s excellent efforts and contribution. The term actually means “to recognize and enjoy” a person’s value or good qualities. It means showing respect and understanding as well as gratitude. Business thrives on appreciation. Here are simple ways you can show real appreciation for others and make their day a bit better.

An electronic thank you is ok for many…who will ultimately skim it, trash it, and move on. But if you take time and care to craft the perfect message of appreciation, why not write it nicely by hand? Finding a lovely card in the mailbox or on the desk is a nice surprise. And it increases the chance they’ll read your message with care.

A small gesture respecting someone’s comfort and convenience can mean a lot. If you’re heading by the break room, offer to take the other person’s empty coffee cup with you. If you’re dropping by accounting, offer to take their paperwork with yours. You’ll need to make sure the cup or file gets promptly to the appropriate destination, of course. The gesture requires little additional effort for you, but removes a burden for them and makes their day just a bit happier.

If someone goes on vacation or is out on sick or personal leave, that creates a vacuum. It is easy to be annoyed or resentful about the extra workload. Instead, happily pick up some of the slack, and when the person returns, tell them how much they were missed and that their particular contribution is important. They will work that much harder if they know others see and value their efforts.

People often borrow small things on the spur of the moment—a pen, a stapler, a book, etc.—with the intention of returning them. But so many times one gets busy and forgets. The lender is stuck without a tool they need, and feels inconvenienced and annoyed. It only takes a moment to return an item you borrowed when you’re done with it.

On a busy day, it is really tempting to leave your dishes in the break room sink or your files piled on the conference room table. You’ll come back and handle it in a few minutes...and five hours later, the mess is still there. Schedule 10 minutes into your lunch or meeting time so you can pick up after yourself. It shows everyone else you respect and appreciate their right to use the common spaces, too.

It feels good to be told, “You did an awesome job” or “You look great today.” It feels even better to hear it in front of other people. Look for opportunities to pay small compliments at meetings, or in the hallway. Others will likely chime in, which exponentially increases the recipient’s pleasure.

Even the best of us make mistakes, and slip-ups come in all flavors from saying the wrong thing to missing a deadline to clicking “send” too soon. Everyone deserves the chance at an occasionaldo-over so they can try to get back on track. Show people that you trust them to make things right.

Birthdays are just the beginning. Work anniversaries, getting engaged, welcoming a child, successfully opening a new location—personal and professional milestones are important. Your colleagues probably don’t expect to be showered with gifts, but everyone likes when others remember the milestones and stop to say “congratulations” or “many happy returns!”

A lagniappe is a small, inexpensive gift. Drop one on a co-worker’s desk when you see them having a hard day: a flower, an origami crane, a hand-drawn doodle, or a smiley face on a post-it. Any small gesture can make a big difference.