Do we still have time for that complimenting and appreciating?

Normally we at De Arbodienst and within paraDIGMA groep are a bit averse to these kinds of "special" days. Why on this one day when you can do something with it throughout the year! Yet in this case we gladly make an exception... Because the approach of Compliments Day is of course fantastic: who doesn't get a kick out of a compliment? At home, at school or at work. It is always nice to hear that something is going well and that you are doing something right; that you are appreciated. Compliments make us happy, even when we give the compliments to someone. And lack of appreciation (or perhaps worse, not sincere appreciation), on the other hand, actually results in frustration and disappointment. The link between appreciation and absenteeism is then quickly established.

So the conclusion of all this seems simple: that will be appreciation, complimenting and interest all day long for you as a manager; and so on and so forth. Then we're all happy, right?

But yes, the issues of the day, the next meeting or a phone call in between: it means that we rarely hand out compliments and that appreciation is often "scheduled" for the first performance review in five months. In fact, we have no time at all for all that complimenting and appreciating...

But isn't appreciation just in the small and real gestures? That thumbs-up in the aisle after a meeting, that minute at the coffee machine to ask about something other than work, just walking in to say that someone is doing a good job; if necessary, a box of Merci on the keyboard. It hardly takes time, let alone energy. That's what true leadership is.

No of course not, rather spontaneously in a week and a half or even better: yesterday. As long as it is real and sincere; and not "because it is in the agenda on March 1.

And that precious time; you do get it back. Because one positive consequence of all this: your employee feels seen, appreciated and respected. You get a loyal and motivated employee in return. Someone who will really go that extra mile when needed. And that absence threshold also increases.

So not enough time? We don't want to hear that anymore: taking time to appreciate someone works!