6 ways to show gratitude at work

1. Written notes of appreciation

To write an impactful note of appreciation, focus on your employees' strengths, the authors write. Begin by highlighting something specific you admire about them, then explain why you value that characteristic and provide a real-world example of how that attribute positively impacted your team.

For example, the authors suggest you could write: "I value your ability to creatively solve problems, turning challenges into opportunities for growth. This ability routinely helps our team unlock innovative ideas. For example, you found an opportunity to create an entirely new product when our subscription numbers were down."

Notes of appreciation will help your employees see their abilities through your eyes, the authors write, and written notes focus your staff's attention on what's working well and show them they matter.

2. Compassionate leadership

Being compassionate as a leader is a powerful way to improve employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention, the authors write.

The first step to being a compassionate leader is starting small. You don't have to always make large gestures — something as simple as an encouraging comment, a brief check-in, or another expression of gratitude can work.

You should also be intentional about offering to help, the authors write. If an employee is struggling on a personal level, don't ask yes or no questions like "Do you need help?" but instead ask "What can I do to be helpful to you today?"

Also, don't limit your compassion to just your inner circle of direct reports or close friends, but instead be generous with your attention. And finally, the authors write, celebrate compassion you see in others. If you see an employee or colleague go above and beyond to help somebody, let others know.

3. Small gestures

Grand gestures aren't always required to show gratitude, the authors write. Small things like regularly checking in with your employees and giving them space to share what they're doing or working on can be helpful.

You should also provide balanced feedback — praise is important, but employees will also want to know where they can improve, so clearly separate out the positive feedback from the developmental.

Offering opportunities for growth or stretch assignments is also an important way you can show an employee they're respected and valued, the authors write.

You should also make a habit out of showing appreciation by building it into your regular routines. For example, the authors write you could spend the first 15 minutes of every week writing a personal thank you note or start team meetings with mentions of accomplishments for specific team members.

4. Meaningful thank you notes

To write a meaningful thank you note, there are a few rules you should follow, the authors write.

First, you should share context for your message, perhaps saying something like "I was reflecting on our last project over the weekend, and I realized I never said thank you."

Then, you should share what you genuinely appreciate and why you appreciate it. Make it clear how the person's actions impacted your experience at work. Whether it's as simple as making you smile on a difficult day or supporting you through a difficult period, it's important to be as specific as possible.

5. Gracious communication

It can be difficult to convey warmth and compassion in stressful circumstances, the authors write, but there are three practices you can use to help with your day-to-day interactions.

First, meet any confrontation with grace, which means wear a smile and be patient and courteous when an employee brings difficult news or challenges your decisions, the authors write. Having an open-minded tone will signal that you're ready to listen, process, and problem solve.

Then, give credit wherever you can. Recognizing your employees and showing gratitude will engender their enthusiasm and loyalty.

And finally, give people space and clarity so you don't catch them off-guard. Make sure you schedule conversations in advance or ask them if now is a good time to talk, and give them a preview of what you'd like to talk about.

6. Modeling kindness

You should be the one to take the lead on showing kindness, the authors write. People will be attuned to your behaviors as a high-status team member, and when you compliment employees, others will likely do the same.

You should also set aside time during meetings for a "kindness round" where team members are free to praise each other's work. This doesn't have to take up a lot of time, but even a few minutes can help improve morale and social connection.

Finally, you should consider small, peer-nominated spot bonuses that allow people to recognize their colleagues' work. If you're working with a limited budget, even a gift card or a small gift can go a long way in showing appreciation. (Harvard Business Review, 11/22)

Invest in a social recognition platform to allow anyone in your organization to give recognition to and receive it from anyone, at any time. If you're serious about investing, ask yourself these three questions and make sure the answer is 'yes.'