How Appreciation Impacts Workplace Satisfaction & Retention

Cathie Leimbach • August 1, 2023

Human diversity is caused by many factors including genetics, environment, and life experiences. This wide range of human diversity affects many aspects of leading people including their response to receiving – or not receiving – appreciation at work. Recent Gallup research has found that the variability in people receiving appreciation is significantly correlated to the sense of fairness in the workplace, employee burnout, and turnover.


This article summarizes some of the differences between employees who feel they are receiving the right amount of recognition and those who don’t feel they are receiving the right amount. Many of the survey respondents indicated that the right amount of recognition is receiving positive feedback at least a few times a week from colleagues – supervisors and/or other coworkers.

First, let’s look at the feeling of being treated fairly at work, a factor that greatly impacts the workplace culture, morale, and productivity. Those who feel they receive the right amount of recognition are seven times more likely to feel treated fairly than those who don’t receive the right amount. Also, those who receive the right amount of recognition are four times more likely to feel respected and valued at work.


Second, let’s look at the impact of feeling appreciated on burnout. When women don’t receive the right amount of recognition, 31% of them feel burned out while only 11% of those who feel adequately recognized feel burned out. However, 24% of men report being burned out whether they feel appropriately recognized or not. Providing quality appreciation increases women’s sense of well-being and their productivity.


Third, let’s explore the potential impact of recognition on employee retention measured by people actively looking for or watching for other job opportunities. Gallup’s 2023 study found that 40% of men who feel they are receiving the right amount of recognition are looking for or keeping their eyes open for a different job. Of those not feeling well appreciated, 58% of men are paying attention to opportunities elsewhere.  32% of women who are feeling appropriately recognized are looking for or watching for other job opportunities while 56% of women who don’t feel well appreciated are considering working elsewhere.


These realities highlight the importance of managers showing appreciation to employees who are fulfilling any or all aspects of their workplace expectations. When people feel treated fairly they are less likely to complain and will be more productive. Women who feel well appreciated are much less likely to be burned out and, thus, be more productive. Overall, both men and women who feel they are receiving the right amount of recognition are more likely to be committed to staying at their current workplace leading to increased engagement and productivity. 



Managers who prioritize recognizing their employees’ contributions at work will likely receive a high return on this investment. Showing appreciation at work is well worth the time and effort! 

Maximize Your Day: Start the Night Before

By Cathie Leimbach • October 21, 2025
Want to boost your performance? According to James Hewitt, author of Regenerative Performance , a truly high-performance day doesn't begin when your alarm goes off—it starts the night before. Hewitt shows that rest isn't a reward you earn after a busy day; it's a vital part of your work strategy. Think of sleep as a required meeting for your brain and body to repair and prepare. Without proper rest, you can't show up as your best self, and the consequences are serious. Here’s a startling fact from research: Staying awake for 17 to 19 hours straight can impair your performance as much as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05% . While the legal limit for driving in the U.S. is 0.08% BAC, many countries consider 0.05% to be legally impaired. After 24 hours of wakefulness, impairment is similar to having a 0.10% BAC, which is well over the legal limit. This level of fatigue slows your reaction time by up to 50%! To avoid this dangerous drop in performance, Hewitt offers a few top tips for better sleep: Create a Buffer: Spend the hour before bed winding down. Avoid work, stressful news, and intense exercise. Manage Your Light: Dim the lights and stop using electronic screens about 30 minutes before sleep. Be Consistent: Go to bed and wake up around the same time every day. By making sleep a priority, you're not just resting; you're actively preparing for success with a sharp, clear, and high-performing mind. View Maximize Your Day to see exactly how fatigue affects your performance!

Boost Your Focus with Cognitive Gears

By Cathie Leimbach • October 14, 2025
In his book, Regenerative Performance, author James Hewitt suggests thinking about your brainpower using the idea of cognitive gears. This simple idea can help you manage your energy and get more done without burning out. Just like a car, your mind has different gears: high, middle, and low. Learning to switch between them is key to working smarter. Understanding the Gears The high gear is for your toughest, most important work—the stuff that needs all your focus, like solving a hard problem or writing a detailed report. Use this gear when you have lots of energy and can block out all distractions. It's powerful, but you can’t stay in it for long; it drains your energy quickly.  The middle gear is your everyday speed. Think of it as "autopilot" for tasks that need less intense focus, such as checking emails, attending routine meetings, or working on familiar projects. You can stay in this gear for longer stretches, and it's where most of your day-to-day work happens. The low gear is for recovery and maintenance. This isn't about working at all! It's about taking breaks, moving your body, and doing activities that let your mind rest, like going for a walk or chatting with a co-worker. Using the low gear helps you recharge so you can shift back into middle or high gear when you need to. Drive Your Day Smarter The secret to regenerative performance is to be mindful of which gear you're in. Don’t try to do high-gear work all day. Schedule short, focused bursts in high gear, then shift to middle gear for less demanding tasks, and always make time for the low gear breaks. By consciously managing your cognitive gears, you'll improve your focus and keep your performance high without running out of gas. Want a quick visual reminder? Check out Cognitive Gears , summarizing these gears!