Gratitude, recognition boost employee loyalty

An effective formula for employee loyalty always includes gratitude and recognition.

Make a New Year's resolution to bolster these essential ingredients in your worker relations recipe.

Savvy service shop operators and tire dealers emphasize gratitude and recognition because they've seen it work firsthand. In some cases, an owner or manager used the technique because it seemed to be a warmer, more-natural approach.

Other times, the boss learned the value of these courtesies by reviewing surveys of common folks out in the general workforce. They ranked gratitude and recognition as either extremely important or most important in a pleasant work environment.

Of course, a tolerable atmosphere is important because employees usually spend more time at work than they do at home.

Some readers may think these courtesies should be natural, instinctive responses.

But if they were, then all owners and managers would practice them effortlessly. But in fact, they don't.

Many workers I have interviewed over the years stressed that these courtesies were conspicuous by their absence.

Consequently, they felt unappreciated and unimportant. Eventually, these feelings spurred them to change jobs.

Indeed, please, thank you and "atta boy" are more important than some bosses realize. There's an old salesman's adage that people like to hear their names.

Likewise, people love a pat on the back. Watch for opportunities to thank workers and recognize their accomplishments both inside and outside of work.

Inform employees of your plans via personal notes, emails and/or team meetings.

Perhaps you can praise workers' achievements through a monthly or quarterly newsletter.

Distribute it via email or internal company mail. Keep it as simple as practically possible. It doesn't need be a graphic extravaganza to be successful.

Furthermore, suppose workers' activities directly impact the local community. If so, then you may opt to applaud them on the company website and on social media.

Also inform traditional media outlets such as local newspapers.

Hopefully it won't be difficult for you to spot appropriate items for your newsletter.

For example, acknowledge employees who advance their skills, education and knowledge on their own initiative.

Perhaps a technician has acquired another ASE "stripe." Maybe the office manager has completed bookkeeping or accounting courses. Or, a worker may have earned certification as a lifeguard at the community swimming pool or as an EMS tech with the volunteer fire department in town.

Don't overlook the most-basic acts of kindness occurring around you.

Your foreman may be devoting spare time to helping techs prepare for upcoming ASE exams.

A service writer may be tutoring a co-worker who's trying to get his GED.

Or the office manager may be coaching a tech to speak better English because English isn't his native language.

Perhaps your techs pooled their time and talent to rejuvenate a shuttle vehicle the local women's shelter needs to perform its work within the community.

Or, maybe the same crew fixed the tire buster's old car so the youngster could get to work safely and reliably.

Mind you, the vast majority of people helping others do so out of the goodness of their hearts — not for accolades.

Nonetheless, they usually welcome a pat on the back for their efforts.