15 effective ways to show your appreciation for your team
Business Journals Leadership Trust is an invite-only network of influential business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs in your community.
When your team members feel genuinely appreciated, their commitment to you as their leader and the overall organization grows. Recognition isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a powerful tool for building loyalty and a positive workplace culture.
Whether through simple daily gestures or meaningful occasional acknowledgments, showing gratitude doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. Below, members of Business Journals Leadership Trust share the actions they take to ensure their team members understand the impact they make and how much it’s appreciated. Their strategies can offer practical inspiration to help you strengthen relationships with your employees and create a workplace where people thrive.
1. Thank team members for a job well done.
Often, the most simple acknowledgments in the daily workplace (whether in-person or virtual) are the most effective. Acknowledge a team member when a task is done and say, “Thank you.” Thanks goes a long way toward showing your appreciation for a fellow worker. – Alfred Leach, Leach Advisors LLC
2. Create profiles with important information for each employee.
Just as you create a client profile with birthdays, anniversaries and important life events, do the same for your employees. Acknowledge team members on their important days, telling them how grateful you are for who they are, not just for what they do for the firm. Also, note any losses, life transitions or deaths in your team members’ families. Be supportive and compassionate, sending cards, small gifts and genuine words of comfort (not “I’m so sorry” or any of the other standard phrases people use). At holiday time, don’t send a “Happy Holidays” greeting to any employees who experienced a significant loss during the year, because it may not be “happy” for them. Let them know you understand them and support their personal lives, goals and aspirations. – Amy Florian, Corgenius
3. Share your admiration for their work with other stakeholders.
One strategy I use to show my team they’re appreciated is to look for chances to express my admiration for their work to my board of directors and external business partners. A direct “thank you” is very important, but praising their contributions to a third party in front of them has an even greater impact. This approach generates pride and loyalty as they feel recognized not just privately, but also publicly. – Brian Barnes, Blakeford Senior Life
4. Give unexpected gifts.
Unexpected gifts of gratitude go a long way. These surprises don’t have to be expensive; it is the act of recognizing, praising and rewarding team members that deepens the relationship between leadership and frontline staff. – Stacy McCall, ServiceMaster by Stratos
5. Foster a culture of open communication and trust.
One way I show appreciation to my team is by fostering a culture of open communication and trust. I’ve focused on making sure every team member feels valued and supported by encouraging regular check-ins and open channels for feedback. When people know their voices matter, it boosts morale and strengthens loyalty. Whether it’s holding daily check-ins, recognizing achievements or just making myself accessible, I’ve found that these small, consistent actions make a big difference. – Justin Brock, Bobby Brock Insurance
6. Celebrate wins (and earn them together).
Celebrate the wins—both big and small—with your employees, and be hands-on when your team needs help. After all, the team’s success is your success, and working with this mindset helps people see beyond just their role in your organization’s collective success. – Bill Rokos, Parsec Automation
7. Provide timely, honest feedback.
One effective way to show your appreciation is by regularly providing timely, honest feedback. Rather than relying solely on public recognition or gifts, genuine feedback shows you care about someone’s growth. It fosters individual drive and keeps them motivated. This boosts their career development and strengthens the organization by encouraging continuous improvement and engagement. – Amy Loth Allen, Emery Sapp & Sons
8. Say ‘thank you’—regularly.
Simply put, I tell my team how much I appreciate them—regularly. While every employee likes to be acknowledged differently, the one thing I do is say “thank you” to my team routinely. I want them to feel appreciated at all times, not just in the big moments. – Matt Becker, Pridestaff
9. Tie thanks to company values.
The most effective way I’ve found is to recognize team members on a regular basis via weekly staff meetings. I’ve found that tying notable behavior to the company’s core values is a very effective way to both appreciate an employee and ensure everyone is regularly living our core values. – Kent Lewis, pdxMindShare
10. Take time to recharge and get to know each other.
Saying “thank you” is super important, and I feel that several actions are necessary. One thing we do is called “Walkabout Wednesdays.” On Wednesdays, at 2 p.m., I ask whoever is interested to go for a walk in the Minneapolis Skyway to recharge. I’ll buy each of them a coffee, soda or beverage of their choice. Usually, about 25% of our staff decides to go, and they enjoy the chance for personal interaction and a break in the day. – Jim Damiani, Newmark
11. Check in on each team member individually.
I show my appreciation for my team by taking the time to check in with them individually and genuinely ask how they’re doing. Making space for open conversation and showing empathy not only demonstrates that I value them as individuals, but also helps create trust and a supportive work environment. – Joey Kercher, Air Fresh Marketing
12. Make recognition a teamwide activity.
Daily small acts of kindness, along with gamifying team accolades, help boost morale. Regular team-building activities, whether monthly or quarterly, allow employees to enjoy time together, making the workplace more enjoyable and less like “work.” – Jessica Hawthorne-Castro, Hawthorne Advertising
13. Catch people doing the right thing.
We have a phrase we use all the time: Catch people doing the right thing. Too many good deeds go unnoticed. It doesn’t take much time, and it involves no expense, to observe something that somebody is doing and not only thank them, but also connect what they’re doing to how it specifically helps the company. Saying, “Nice job doing …” is one thing; saying, “I really like the way you did ‘X.’ That will really help drive client retention in the future.” is quite another thing. Also, understand what motivates people. Some love public recognition, while others loathe it. You could potentially discourage someone from doing the right thing with the wrong reward system. Learn what people like, and reward or recognize them accordingly. – Gary Braun, Pivotal Advisors, LLC
14. Celebrate each team member in a way that resonates personally with them.
True appreciation fosters loyalty by making employees feel genuinely valued—not just for their work, but for who they are. I prioritize daily gratitude, whether it’s with a personalized thank you, a note acknowledging someone’s unique strengths, or empowering a team member to lead in their area of expertise. For bigger achievements, I celebrate in ways that resonate personally, like tailored career opportunities or meaningful rewards. Loyalty becomes natural when people feel seen, supported and invested in. This culture of genuine appreciation strengthens bonds, inspires commitment and creates a team that’s deeply aligned with our shared mission. – Ali Sinan, Occams Group
15. Recognize the value of team members’ contributions.
The most effective way to show employees they’re appreciated also happens to be the one most desired by employees: recognizing their contributions. Recognition not only validates someone’s contributions, but also the value they bring to the organization. Recognition also drives the behavior you not only want the recognized employee to continue, but also everyone else in the company to adopt. As a senior leader, it’s important for the people you’re leading to know you give credit where credit is due, versus capitalizing on achievements for yourself. It’s a fundamental value of humanity, and the way we view the people in the workplace should be no different than the way we view the people in our personal lives. – Scott Puccinelli, fuelAI
