Company Appreciation

Having the COMPANY APPRECIATION motive means you want your company to value you both as an employee and as a person. You also want to value the relationship you have with your company, and you are motivated when you feel like your contribution matters to the organization’s greater goals. You best engage when your company, through management and colleagues, recognizes your performance. When it comes to receiving appreciation, rewards have an added dimension of value for you, because they affirm your worth to your organization. Gestures of appreciation – whether small or large – also demonstrate regard for your performance and hard work. When you know that your workplace values you, your confidence improves; you have a sense of forward-motion and satisfaction. You thrive when you can see that your particular contribution to your company is important and appreciated. When you are taken for granted, or your work goes unacknowledged or unused, it will negatively impact your motivation and wellbeing. In an ideal situation, COMPANY APPRECIATION is normal in your company culture, and a reliable fixture of your work experience. You excel and engage in an environment that gives you the message that you are professionally and personally relevant; you know this is true when your company shows it appreciates you.

You feel this motive being met when…

+ You are recognized by your company for your time and the work that you do.

+ You feel like your work and your presence as an individual matter to your organization, regardless of your level and influence.

+ Your good work and ideas are consistently noticed.

This motive is at risk when…

– You feel replaceable, disposable, or taken for granted in your workplace.

– Your contributions – even when they are appreciated by colleagues – are not seen or appreciated by leadership.

– Even when you perform well, you are under-recognized and under-rewarded by leadership and/or by the company’s feedback structure.

A Work Wellness Check-In for COMPANY APPRECIATION

What do I appreciate most about the company I work for? What do I think they appreciate most about me?
When did I last feel that I mattered to my company? When did I last feel that my professional contributions mattered? Do I say anything when I feel unappreciated or undervalued?
How do I experience appreciation in my work life? What displays of appreciation matter to me the most? (e.g. thoughtful benefits? Flex time? More responsibility? An award? Extra support when I need it? Access to growth opportunities? A bonus or raise? Words of affirmation from my manager? A positive mention at a meeting, in a publication, or on social media? etc.)
How often do I receive the kinds of affirmation or recognition that matter to me most? Could I share ideas with others in the company to help strengthen this motive?
Are there some formal programs or forms of recognition at my company that myself or others are not motivated by or are even deterred by? Have we vocalized this, could we?
Do I feel the recognition and appreciation at my company, whether a formal program or award or informal, is genuine and authentic?

On a scale of 1-10, how much do I feel my company appreciates me? (1 = my company does not see or appreciate me; 10 = my company frequently shows it appreciates me, and treats me as critical to its success) How much would I say I appreciate my company?
What do I appreciate most about working where I do? Is is the people? The work I engage most in? That my other motives are well cared for?
Are people valued as people at my company? Is appreciation only present when it’s tied directly to high performance metrics?

If an atmosphere of appreciation is lacking, what do I think holds it back? Lack of time? Poor leadership? An overly competitive environment? Shift to remote working makes showing simple appreciation or verbal thank you’s less common? Where can I address obstacles or suggest ideas to combat them?
If I feel this motive is “under-met,” can I practice self-appreciation in my work life? (e.g. rewarding myself when I do something well; practicing positive affirmations; allowing myself internal validation; etc.)
Do I feel this motive is at risk of being judged in my company culture? Or does my company make a good effort to appreciate and aknowledge their people even if it’s not perfect? Are their intentions in the right place?
Do my colleagues and I receive credit for our unique contributions? Does management notice what I do, what they do, and express that they notice?
Would my manager or supervisor respond if I asked for more positive feedback? When I do receive feedback, is it generally constructive or destructive?
How do I feel about the culture at my company? Does my company support an atmosphere of appreciation? How can I help influence this?