There’s something warming about Thanksgiving that goes beyond the warmth of the kitchen and the delicious home cooked meals. It’s the fact that it brings everyone together to reminisce, to delight in our successes, and to revel in all the good that we have done for each other. Thanksgiving serves as a reminder to never take things for granted; it reminds us that giving thanks is important and that we should express our appreciation for those around us.
Every year, around Thanksgiving time, it strikes me that a simple utterance of gratitude can carry a lot of weight. Doesn’t the holiday itself speak to the importance of expressing appreciation? It is so important that there is an entire day dedicated to giving thanks. Unfortunately, this thought process doesn’t always carry through the holidays and during our busy, day-to-day routines, we sometimes forget to give our friends a supporting pat on the shoulder, or our family members a smile of appreciation.
The interesting thing is that something as simple as expressing appreciation for a job well-done can bring a lot to the table. Though we often claim immunity to the thoughts of others (I know I have), and insist that the opinions of others don’t impact our way of being, it’s undeniable that even small displays of recognition can go a long way. It’s why, as children, we delight in the gold stars we receive and as adults, we welcome affirmations of a job well-done. This is especially impactful in the business world, where disengaged and unmotivated employees can be particularly damaging to the success of a company.
Positive Emotions in the Workplace
Research studies have found that “positive emotion can enhance problem-solving, improve certain types of information recall, increase efficiency in highly complex decision-making, and lead to more cooperative approaches during conflict resolution,” all of which are highly beneficial for the modern workplace. Of all positive work experiences, instances of peer and supervisor recognition are the most frequent experiences that evokes positive emotion within employees, making it one of the simplest and most effective tools to drive success in your company.
The Social Value of Individualism and Success
Most workers would be satisfied being publicly recognized for their work because our societal conventions place value on individualism and success. Since we value these things, recognition in the workplace can play an important role in driving engagement and satisfaction. Displays of recognition reinforce the idea that your workers are needed, important, unique, and successful – all of which are important, positive emotions that help keep employees motivated and interested in their jobs. In a gamification solution, leaderboards, points, and badges serve as the recognition givers. They say, “We see your achievements, and we appreciate them!”
So this Thanksgiving, don’t forget to give thanks; not only to your loved ones, but also to your workers. Raise your glasses and toast to all of the successes you’ve accomplished together, and don’t forget: giving thanks is important not only on Thanksgiving, but every day of the year.
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