Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen Gallup’s research on dismal employee engagement – only 20% of the global workforce feels engaged at work.

Many leaders are at a loss about what to do, especially if they work for organizations that aren’t committed to building people-centric cultures.

The good news is that you can make a difference as a manager and leader, despite your company’s potential indifference.

“What is it?” you ask.” What’s one thing I can do to increase employee engagement??

The answer: Show appreciation!

According to a study by Hubspot, 69% of those surveyed said they would work harder if they were shown more appreciation at work. Wow! That’s an amazing stat. And it’s something we can all do something about.

It’s simple to express, “Thank you! I appreciate your effort on this project, and you nailed the deliverables.”

It’s easy to say, “You did a great job pulling the team together, and I can’t tell you how much it means to the team and me.”

It only takes a moment to respond, “The way you handled this stressful situation was outstanding. I appreciated how you kept your cool. You saved the day!”

But as leaders, we forget to acknowledge people regularly. Or we say, “good job,” but don’t state the specifics of why we think someone nailed it. We get caught up in the day’s fire alarm and don’t express gratitude as often as we should. But it’s the simplest thing we can do to drive engagement. You don’t need a complex, comprehensive program to make it happen. You can control it because it’s inspired and led by YOU!

Right now, take out a sticky note and write this. “Say thank you  or good job today – and be specific about why you are expressing gratitude!” Now put it on your computer monitor where you’ll see it. Then take action. Tell at least five people every day how you appreciate what they do. And see what happens.

Goodness will come from it, I promise.

“Appreciate everything your associates do for the business. Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They’re absolutely free and worth a fortune.” – Sam Walton

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