With Employee Appreciation Day taking place on 4 March and International Women’s Day on 8 March, it’s only timely that we dive into the topics of acknowledgement and appreciation - both which lie at the heart of these two important occasions.
 

Where are we now?

• Appreciation is often used interchangeably with recognition. Yet recognition is about applauding a person’s performance on something, whereas appreciation involves acknowledging their inherent traits. In other words, recognition is about what people do and appreciation is about who they are.

• As society evolves, we’re becoming more accepting of ideas previously considered unimportant, such as mental health, self-care and self-appreciation.

What can you do?

• Showing appreciation isn’t only about elaborate gestures. Simple things like giving an employee your full attention and truly listening instead of hearing goes a long way.

• Tell people - the women in your lives and colleagues at work - what you value about them. Do this often, and without any particular purpose. Ask how they’re doing (and mean it).

What's next?:

• Hone the skill to be present in the moment so you can actively seek out something to appreciate.

• This may seem difficult at first, but the longer you keep at it, the easier it becomes.