Appreciation changes everything. Research has proven when employees are appreciated and recognized for their great work, they become more loyal, committed, and engaged. Check out our appreciation best practices checklist.

1. Appreciation changes everything. Research has proven when
employees are appreciated and recognized for their great work,
they become more loyal, committed, and engaged.

2. APPRECIATE FREQUENTLY
Research shows that employees want some
form of recognition every seven days.
REMEMBER THE POWER OF
THE ‘THANK YOU’ NOTE
Taking the time to write a note of thanks
has lasting impact.
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MAKE IT TIMELY
Hold the appreciation moment as close to the
event that you’re recognizing as possible. If the
recognition is not timely, the appreciation
starts to lose its value.

3. BE SPECIFIC
General praise is rarely motivating. Spell it out by
telling them precisely what they did to earn your
appreciation and why. Go into detail of the great
work that’s been done.
RECOGNIZE UNIQUE QUALITIES
AND MAKE IT PERSONAL
After any conversation with a team member, write
down information that is significant about each
person. Then use this information to add a personal
anecdote during recognition.

4. SHARE A STORY
Storytelling is a powerful way to illustrate how a
person lives the company’s values. Highlight
attributes that demonstrate the difference they
have made.
INVITE OTHERS TO SPEAK
Get coworkers and senior leaders to participate
in the recognition, but don’t stop there. When
celebrating 10 years of service or more, be sure
to invite family and friends as well.

5. PREPARE YOUR REMARKS
Take the time to pull together your thoughts
for a meaningful celebration. You can visit
iappreciate.com for eCards, printable certificates,
presentation tips, and more.
EXTEND THE APPRECIATION
EXPERIENCE
Once the celebration is over, you want the impact
of the experience to live on. Record the event,
giving the employee a keepsake to save and share
with family and friends.

6. O.C. Tanner develops employee recognition and rewards programs
that help companies appreciate people who do great work.
Find out more at octanner.com
Download The Checklist Here