For employers, it’s a great time of year to check in with your team, reflect on your achievements, and (here’s an idea) say thank you! With plenty of drunken work Christmas party anecdotes doing the rounds, it’s important to remember why we host them in the first place…

“The deepest principle of human nature is a craving to be appreciated.” William James, psychologist, and philosopher.

For anyone thinking, ‘my team get paid to their job, surely that’s enough…’ you’re missing the point. If you want your employees to thrive and do the best job for your organisation, then a bit of human gratitude and appreciation can go a long way.

Here are our tips for spreading a little gratitude (and it won’t cost you a penny)

1.Just say it

If you see something good, call it out! If thanking people makes you feel a bit awkward (and it really does make some leaders feel out of their comfort zone), then write a post-it and stick it on the employees’ desk, send an email, write them a letter or card. But do it whenever you see something you genuinely appreciate. This helps create a culture where people feel comfortable saying the positives as well as negatives.

2.Get detailed

Be specific about what the person has done well. It makes the thanks comes across as a lot more genuine. Using details means that you’ve really noticed what’s happened, and it makes your appreciation more meaningful. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to reinforce your company values. By rewarding the behaviour that you value, you’ll get more of it!

3.Find the good in everyone

It’s easy to praise someone who’s great at their job. But what about those who aren’t high-flyers, or self-promoters. What about those who are struggling. Praise for people in these categories can be an absolute tonic. The trick is, to make sure you’re praising something genuine. So look for the good in what they’re doing. There will be something that they bring to the team which is specific to them. They’ll appreciate the time you took to notice and it will give them a huge boost.

4.Time it

Try to say thanks in a timely way. If you leave it too long, the weeds of neglect or apathy can start to creep in – if no one acknowledges the great stuff you do, then it’s easy to not bother next time. So don’t wait. Keep it timely and make it regular.

5.Make it public…or not

Many people thrive on public recognition. There’s a real buzz when people are thanked in front of their peers, and it’s another terrific way to reinforce your values (I know, I keep banging on about it!). But some may find it embarrassing, so think about the needs of the person before you single them out at a company get together. Maybe a quiet word is all they need to feel full of the joys of knowing what they do counts.

As a leader, you have the choice. You are grateful for the hard work. Or not. You can engage your team. Or not. You can spread a little happiness. Or not. Remember what Mr. Scrooge says when he fondly remembers his boss Mr. Fezziwig to the Ghost of Christmas past…

“He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ’em up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.”