The holidays are a natural time to look back on the year and take stock of everything you have to be grateful for – and hopefully one of those things is a group of awesome coworkers who support you at your job! If so, take the time to show them just how much you appreciate working together.
You don’t need to do anything lavish – in fact, being too generous with thank you gifts may cause awkward feelings if your coworker isn’t able to reciprocate and feels like he or she should. The best ways to show appreciation are the small ways.
Need some ideas? Here are 8 ways to show your coworkers how much you appreciate them.
Say thank you in person
This may sound basic, but are you already in the habit of letting your coworkers know you appreciate the work they’ve done? If a coworker has helped you out with the project or gone out of their way to make your life a little easier, let them know. Be genuine, and be specific about what you’re thanking them for. You’ll make them feel good, and as a bonus they’ll be more likely to help you in the future.
Praise them to a superior
One of the best ways you can thank a coworker is by telling someone important what a good worker they are. Shoot your boss and email, or speak up in a meeting to acknowledge how much your coworker’s effort means to you. Identify something specific but they’ve done to help you out, or an admirable personal quality that makes work easier every day – your small recommendation could go a long way towards a raise or promotion in the future.
Bring in a treat
Baking cookies or picking up cupcakes on the way into the office can be a fun way to show people how much you appreciate them. It always creates a festive atmosphere!
Offer to do a task for them
Has your coworker saved you time by taking something big off your plate? Repay the favor by offering to pick up a task for them. It could be something as simple as offering to drop something off at the mail department for them, or as big as offering to cover a meeting so they can head home for the holidays early. It’s a gesture that will definitely be appreciated.
Take your coworker out to lunch
If you want to make a bigger gesture, take a coworker out to lunch. It not only shows how much you appreciate them, it’s also a great way to get to know your coworker better. If you head up a team, the holidays are a excuse to both show appreciation and do some team bonding over lunch or happy hour.
Bring back a little something from your vacation
If you’re headed home for the holidays, try picking up inexpensive gifts from your hometown to show your coworkers how much you care. It could be a type of candy or treat your area is famous for, a box of fruit that’s grown nearby, cute refrigerator magnets, or even just your mom’s fabulous homemade cookies. This is a great way to connect with your coworkers by showing where you’re from, too.
Lend an extra hand
Workloads can get weird around the holidays. For some people and teams, the to do list gets inexplicably lighter, while other people find themselves facing crunch time to get things done. If you’re one of the lucky ones whose workload has dropped off, consider helping out one of your busy coworkers in a show of solidarity.
Take on an extra office chore
It may not be the most glamorous gift, but taking on an office chore no one else wants to do is a really concrete way to show your coworkers that you care about them. Deep clean the fridge, reorganize the file cabinet, or tackle that lost and found pile no one else has wanted to touch. Just be careful not to go into this with a sense of burden, thinking that you’re the only one who ever cleans. Treat this as a cheerful act of service, and it will be much appreciated!
What are some of your favorite ways to show your appreciation to coworker? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!
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