Appreciation is a human need. It’s not just something that’s nice to have when possible, but something that each person needs in order to be happy and to thrive. That’s true in every setting, but it’s perhaps nowhere more evident than in the workplace. When people feel genuinely appreciated by those they work for and with, they’re much more likely to be excellent contributors and “team players.”
When there’s lots of appreciation flowing between team members, this significantly boosts the chances of that team becoming a winning team. Appreciation has the power to bring out the best in people. It makes them want to do more, stretch more, contribute more, feel like they’re capable of more, and be content in the role they play. If everyone on the team appreciates one another, respects one another, and shows faith in one another, this multiplies the overall productivity and happiness of the team.
It’s definitely to your advantage to take the time to appreciate those you work with. It will make you happier, because appreciation is a form of love, and love has a way of returning to those who bestow it. It will make the recipients of the appreciation happier, because it will brighten their lives. And if everyone’s appreciating everyone, then the workplace will be a happier place, everyone will work better, and more will be accomplished.
Thinking positive thoughts about one another is good; it’s a start, but if we don’t express those thoughts, if we don’t verbalize them, they won’t do anyone else any good. We can’t expect people to read our minds. We have to put those thoughts into words or actions.
No matter what may have held you back from giving sincere and regular appreciation in the past, you can begin today to bring out the best in others by pointing it out. There’s so much that we can appreciate others for, and it means so much to people when someone takes an interest in them and notices unique and special things about them. Let’s not only appreciate things that are the most obvious, and that we benefit from the most, but let’s try to expand our “appreciation horizons” by looking for the other less apparent things that we are sure to find if we make the effort.