As Thanksgiving approaches and the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to express gratitude to your team for their hard work. While managers are responsible for guiding and leading their teams, it’s equally important to acknowledge and appreciate their contributions. Taking the time to show your appreciation not only enhances workplace culture but also positively impacts employee retention as you head into the new year. Here are four ways managers can show gratitude to their teams this Thanksgiving season.
1. Personalize Your Recognition
Recognition feels most meaningful when it’s personalized. A generic “Good job!” message or e-card doesn’t leave a lasting impression or motivate employees to continue excelling. Instead, take the time to craft thoughtful, specific messages that highlight individual actions or achievements. Instead of saying, “Great work this quarter,” try, “Your innovative ideas on the marketing campaign played a huge role in our success this quarter. Thank you for your creativity and dedication!” Personalized recognition shows employees that their unique contributions are valued, making your gratitude more impactful.
2. Celebrate Milestones and Achievements
Along with making notes personalized, acknowledging milestones and achievements throughout the year shows you recognize their hard work and that it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Whether it is finishing up a big project, meeting a sales goal, or celebrating an anniversary, these moments deserve recognition. Even if you’ve congratulated employees at the time of the achievement (which you should), it never hurts to revisit these moments and celebrate again. Big or small, every accomplishment contributes to your team’s success and deserves acknowledgment.
3. Reward Team Efforts
Never forget there is no “I” in team. It takes a strong team (could be 2 people or it could be 20) but collective success deserves recognition just as much as individual achievements. Highlighting team accomplishments reinforces the idea that everyone’s efforts contribute to the group’s overall success. You can celebrate with a catered lunch, gift cards for team members, or even an afternoon off to show appreciation for their dedication. Team-based recognition fosters collaboration, strengthens bonds, and reminds everyone of the value of working together towards a shared goal.
4. Incorporate This Recognition Year Round
While Thanksgiving is an excellent time to express gratitude, recognition should be a year-round practice. Recognition from managers is so important to boosting employee morale and retention, more important than you might realize. Frequent, consistent recognition has a greater impact than occasional gestures. Make expressing gratitude part of your management routine rather than reserving it for special occasions. Whether it’s a quick shoutout during a meeting or on your company communication channel, consistent appreciation builds a positive culture where employees feel valued every day.
Use this Thanksgiving as an opportunity to show your team how much you appreciate them and their dedication. By personalizing recognition, celebrating milestones, rewarding team efforts, and maintaining gratitude throughout the year, you'll foster a workplace culture that motivates, inspires, and retains top employees. Whether big or small, make it meaningful, and your team will thank you for it.
