When staff put in extra effort, spend long
days completing a project or basically go out of their way to do the
best they can, they expect to be at least acknowledged for their hard
work from the people they were putting the extra effort in for.
Not saying "thank you" or offering
actions of gratitude can do more damage to the relationship you have
with that staff member than you think.
This means simply giving them their paycheque
is not sufficient enough. Offering a raise or any form of financial
reward may provide a temporary boost, but financial rewards pale in
comparison to the human factor that exceeds the limits of what money
can offer.
Here are some ways to say "Thank You"
without resorting to the chequebook:
- Simply saying, "Thank you, I appreciate everything
you're doing!"
- Offer to take the person or group of persons out
to lunch
- Offer emotional and professional support to reinforce
their strengths
- Give them first dibs at a new role that is opening
up in the company
- If the project was notably excruciating, offer a
well-deserved day off at the project's end
- Offer an equipment upgrade
The purpose of compensation is to act as a supporting
factor, not the main driving factor. The purpose of this exercise is
to incorporate the human factor into regular exchanges in the workplace.
The more it appears there's an emotional and amicable
atmosphere, the more likely those same individuals will continue to
overaccomplish and deliver quality results on a regular basis.
