As we “march” through staff appreciation month, take a few moments to show appreciation to your peers. In addition to “shout-outs” and nominating staff for a Called to be True Blue award, here are a few additional ways to say thanks.

Voice a verbal thank-you. In the workplace, things move fast and sometimes “thank-you” gets left behind. Make it a point to show your appreciation by simply saying thanks.

Microsoft Teams Badges. Send praise to a peer using Microsoft Teams badges. There are a number of badges to choose from, including “thank-you,” “achiever,” “awesome,” and “team player.” To start sending praise, go into Teams Chat. Create a new message.  Select *** below the compose box, then select Praise. If you don’t see Praise as an option, click additional apps to find it. Select your badge, compose your message and send. That’s it!

Hand-written note. A personal note written with sincerity and specifics can sometimes mean the most to a colleague. If the person is working remotely, consider sending an electronic thank-you card or email.

Give kudos in a team meeting. An individual, face-to-face thank you is personal and effective. For some individuals, there is also room for more public appreciation—and a team meeting is the perfect place to recognize someone who has helped you out recently. It doesn’t have to be big and flashy, but be sure to be specific in how they helped.

Share a treat. Being COVID safe, share a pre-packaged treat with a co-worker with a small note of thanks.

Offer to help. Giving thanks is always a good idea. But for some, offering to help is even better. Show your appreciation to a colleague by offering your assistance. Think of those you would like to thank and then try to think of a way you can give them a hand.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources