Employee Appreciation is a key motivator and a cornerstone of building an effective work culture. Recognizing employees keeps them engaged and happier, which in turn encourages high performance and aids in retention.

Creating a culture of saying Thank you for the small and large things an employee does is a win-win for both employee and employer. As an employee I go home a happier person and my walk has a spring to it. A disgruntled employee, on the other hand, is literally a hazard to the company.

Even when we look beyond an organization realm, saying thank you to the doorman, the janitor, and the housekeeping personnel makes their day, and they go that extra mile for you. The psychology works similarly at home, in a corporate culture on or outside the workplace as well.

As a leader, when you show appreciation, your gesture will encourage the same in others within your organization. With remote and hybrid work models, social connections don’t always occur as organically as they used to. So, there has to be a true intent to make plans to meet virtually or, even better, in person with your teams and peers.

So what does recognition mean, it may mean a dinner for two, or a movie ticket voucher, or a plaque, or a simple thank-you note, or in words. Many people assume that appreciation is only verbal. You can also show appreciation by spending time with the person, listening to them in a 1:1, or spending time in a team activity. In fact, Quality Time is the preferred appreciation language for 26% of employees in the U.S.

Most important drivers of great work:

Every organization's culture should embrace this, as it aids with employee productivity and performance, establishes a thriving culture, as well as fosters team spirit. Today, as the competition for talent escalates, the ways in which organizations show that they value their employees have become more important than ever. When employees are appreciated or they receive words of recognition, it boosts their self-esteem, improves their self-evaluations, and triggers positive emotions. The result is a happier, more engaged employee.

AiStrike has adopted employee appreciation as a core part of its culture and makes sure there are opportunities for the employees to interact beyond work and ensures true recognitions are called out in town halls and over lunches and dinners as well in 1:1s. This has resulted in high employee satisfaction levels, which is a predecessor for a high-paced and highly innovative environment like ours.

During the Thanksgiving period, we not only thank our employees for their dedication and belief but also our partners, advisors, and family for their unwavering support as we continue to march forward on this journey of transforming cyber investigations and empowering security teams.