Research suggests that even the smallest expressions of gratitude can have a powerful impact on collaboration. Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Sara Algoe, a professor at the  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and founder and director of the  Love Consortium, offers four tips to help workers show appreciation in the workplace.

The benefits of gratitude in the workplace

Gratitude is a simple yet powerful tool that can transform a work environment. When employees feel valued and appreciated by others, they are more motivated to perform.

When companies foster a culture of gratitude, it "can increase productivity, enhance collaboration among employees, make managers more effective and improve corporate performance," Algoe writes.

"I have studied gratitude for more than two decades, and one common theme emerges repeatedly," Algoe writes. "Even basic expressions of thanks have remarkably powerful effects. Knowing that others—whether managers, co-workers or clients—appreciate our actions makes us feel valued. And when you feel valued by someone, you think more highly of them and are more willing to go out of your way to help them."

In particular, studies have found that those who receive gratitude are more likely to exhibit generosity and helpfulness towards those who express it. However, the positive effects of gratitude are not limited to those who receive it directly. When people observe acts of gratitude, they are often inspired to assist others and create a more cooperative work environment.

4 tips to express gratitude in the workplace

To foster a culture of gratitude in the workplace, managers and employees should consider implementing the following strategies when expressing gratitude toward others:

1. Look for opportunities to express thanks

A brief acknowledgement of a colleague's hard work, be it in-person or via email, can go a long way in encouraging them to invest more effort in the tasks they do for others. For example, in an experiment where participants were asked to edit a cover letter, those who were thanked spent 23 minutes editing a second letter when asked, compared to 20 minutes among people who were not thanked.

According to Algoe, "people who express their gratitude are seen as warmer, more competent and more caring about others—and the people being thanked actually do extra work for them."

2. Make it personal

When expressing appreciation, focus on the contributions of your colleague. Emphasizing their actions, rather than focusing on how it affected you, will make them feel valued and important.

"All our evidence suggests this is the active ingredient in why gratitude expressions make a difference for the people who hear them," Algoe writes. "We call it 'putting the 'you' in 'thank you.'"

3. Be genuine and specific

"[W]hen people want to show gratitude, I encourage them to express it when they feel it and focus on specific things that the other person did," Algoe writes.

"By staying specific about what you found particularly great or noteworthy about the person's actions, it is easier to make them feel valued, and there's little risk of going over the top with thanks," she added.

4. Express appreciation publicly

Publicly expressing gratitude can have a multiplier effect, strengthening relationships and sending a positive message to the whole team. Sharing appreciation in group emails, meetings, or company messaging platforms signals that you acknowledge and recognize the efforts of individuals, making both the giver and receiver of gratitude appear more appealing to others.

Ultimately, "by expressing gratitude in a public way, you may do even more to give back to the person you're thanking," Algoe notes.

By integrating these practices into your workplace, employees and managers can contribute to a more supportive, motivated, and successful work environment. (Algoe, Wall Street Journal, 4/16)