The Holiday Gift Your Employees Really Want

What’s the best holiday gift you can give your employees? Respect.

As Darcy Jacobsen, content analyst and Globoforce blogger, says in her post “The Secret to Respect in the Workplace”:

“Respect reaches much further than manners and compliance. It also plays a key role in recognition, engagement, and in creating a strong organizational culture. Think about it. Recognition, at its core, is really just a form of respect. People who have been recognized tend to rise to that recognition, and strive in the future to be worthy of it. People who are not recognized for hard work tend to feel forgotten, unappreciated and disrespected.”

In fact, she notes, research from executive advisory firm CEB places respect among the top five things employees look for when seeking a new job. Respect is new to the top-five list this year according to Brian Kropp, a managing director at CEB, as cited by Forbes staffer Meghan Casserly, in “The Top Five Reasons Employees Will Quit In 2013.”

“Like compensation, it’s something that employees are starting to expect in the new and increasingly comfortable workplace. ‘It’s not a do your work and keep your head down environment anymore,’ Kropp says. ‘Everyone is looking to be recognized and respected for their individual contribution.’”

The holidays present an ideal opportunity to show your gratitude to employees. As the season approaches and you plan for holiday gifts, make sure you’re doing all you can to show employees your respect and appreciation.

To do so, Forbes contributor Glenn Llopis writes in “5 Ways Leaders Earn Respect From Their Employees,”

“Leaders must be active and attentive listeners, practice patience, appreciate the unique talents and capabilities of their colleagues, and be noticeably grateful for the effort and performance of their teams.”

Jacobsen lists several experts’ top tips for showing workplace respect.

Paul Marciano, organizational psychologist and author of Carrots and Sticks Don’t Work: Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles of RESPECT  lists seven:

1. Recognition: Thanking employees and acknowledging their contributions on a daily basis.
2. Empowerment: Providing employees with the tools, resources, training, and information they need to be successful.
3. Supportive feedback: Giving ongoing performance feedback—both positive and corrective.
4. Partnering: Fostering a collaborative working environment.
5. Expectation setting: Establishing clear performance goals and holding employees accountable.
6. Consideration: Demonstrating thoughtfulness, empathy, and kindness.
7. Trust: Demonstrating faith and belief in employees’ skills, abilities, and decisions.

Bruce J. Avolio, from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business offers five:

1. Be authentic: Be an authentic reflection of your organization’s espoused values and principles while promoting transparency and justice.
2. Promote ‘ownership’: Make all employees feel like ‘owners’ versus ‘renters’, that their voice matters, and that people in positions of power listen to learn and engage with their employees.
3. Develop potential: Help each individual feel like they are reaching their full potential and achieving their performance goals by investing in development.
4. Create an energized culture: Create a positive climate where your followers’ energy is directed toward winning against competitors versus defending against internal detractors from what you’re trying to accomplish.
5. Sacrifice when necessary: Be willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the organization when such sacrifices contribute to everyone’s success.

These tips align with principles of great management—and common sense—so you’re likely following many of them already. But it never hurts to examine your organizational culture and make sure you are delivering well against these values. So make respect a cornerstone of your holiday gift strategy this and every year.

For comprehensive how-to information on building a vibrant culture of respect and appreciation, download our FREE eBook, “The Ultimate Guide to Employee Gift-Giving” and start today!




About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime. gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Contact: Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
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