Being Thankful for Workplace Colleagues

Cathie Leimbach • November 22, 2022

Employees everywhere want to be valued, respected, and appreciated. They want to be thanked for the contributions they are making at their workplace and be supported to become even more effective at their job! 69% of employees say that the recognition they receive impacts how likely they are to stay with the company. 

Being thankful at work really matters! Human beings are emotional beings. We are more content and motivated to achieve when we feel appreciated for who we are and what we offer. When an employee’s manager treats them well, employees feel supported by the organization. This encourages them to engage more fully, enhancing the organization’s success.

Too often, supervisors believe that an employee’s paycheck is reward enough.  They don’t express thanks at work unless an employee is meeting or exceeding expectations in all aspects of their job.

However, when employees don’t get feedback, they don’t know if they are meeting expectations. If they don’t know what they are doing well, they may not continue to do their best in these areas. When they don’t realize they are underperforming, they don’t realize they need to improve.  Not knowing where they stand leads to insecurity and declining motivation. 

Many managers say they don’t know how to show appreciation at work. Let’s consider 3 simple ways.

  1. Use words to thank your employees. 
  • During a one-on-one conversation or a small group meeting, thank them for a specific task that they are doing well and explain how this work matters to other people - customers, the organization, the department, or a colleague. Thank them for their reliability, their thoughtfulness when others need help, or their high-quality work.
  • Share your thanks by email or in a text or phone call.
  • Write a thank you card or jot a note on a post-it and leave it on their desk.

 

   2.  Use an appropriate form of physical touch.

  • Congratulate a job well done or a group accomplishment with a high five, fist bump, or pat on the back.
  • Help them when they have a task that will be easier with two heads or two sets of hands.
  • Hold the door or help carry boxes when they are loading their vehicle for a trade show.

 

   3.  When they have an urgent deadline and you can spare 20 minutes, ask how you can help.

  • If you are a spreadsheet whiz your 20 minutes could save them 2 hours.
  • If you’re a grammar nerd, you might quickly improve the readability of an important document.

 

Who in your department receives little recognition for the value they add in the workplace? How could you make them feel appreciated during this Thanksgiving season and beyond?

People Give More When They Know Why Their Work Matters

By Cathie Leimbach • August 4, 2026
Most employees know what they are expected to do each day. Far fewer fully understand why their work matters or how it contributes to the organization's success. Yet that understanding is one of the most powerful drivers of engagement, commitment, and performance. Gallup research consistently shows that employees who feel connected to their organization's mission and purpose are significantly more engaged, while highly engaged teams achieve stronger productivity, profitability, customer satisfaction, and retention. When people understand how their individual responsibilities help customers, coworkers, and the organization succeed, their work becomes more than a list of tasks—it has meaning. Supervisors play the key role in creating that understanding. A job description explains what to do. Leadership conversations explain why it matters. They help employees see how quality, safety, customer service, teamwork, and continuous improvement all connect to the organization's goals. As work changes, priorities shift, or new challenges arise, supervisors who communicate openly help employees understand not only what is changing, but why those changes matter. Questions, discussion, and regular feedback replace assumptions with clarity and build trust. Employees who understand the purpose behind their work are more likely to make good decisions, solve problems, take initiative, and remain committed during difficult times. They also appreciate knowing that their organization is willing to invest in their future through learning and career development opportunities, even if promotion is not immediate. When supervisors consistently connect daily work to a larger purpose through meaningful conversations, employees gain direction, confidence, and motivation. They don't simply complete tasks—they understand the difference they make. And that understanding creates a workplace where engagement, performance, and retention naturally grow. Need Help with a Difficult Workplace Conversation? Great leadership doesn't happen by accident—it happens one conversation at a time. Join our FREE Workplace Conversations Clinic on the 3rd Monday of every month , from 3:00–3:30 p.m. , beginning August 17 . When you're wondering how to handle a workplace people challenge, join the Workplace Conversations Clinic to run it by Cathie Leimbach and other attendees. Join the Workplace Conversations Clinic Conversation is where leadership happens.

Leaders Who Help People Thrive

By Cathie Leimbach • July 28, 2026
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