How often do you say “thanks” to your team? Daily, occasionally, during an annual review?

Saying thanks and showing appreciation shouldn’t be limited to special occasions. Here are four ways to create a culture of appreciation in your workplace:

Involve your employees in the big decisions and strategic planning of the organization
Solicit their ideas about the direction you’re headed. Discuss the future of the company with them, along with their place within it. Consider what they have to say and give them credit for their input. By doing all this, you show your employees that they’re important to you and to the success of the organization. 

Invest in your employees
Offer opportunities for advancement. If promotions aren’t possible, then help employees up-level their skills and learn new ones. Provide coaching and training sessions—or cover the costs of outside services. Employees will feel appreciated when they can see that you care about their professional development.

Regularly recognize employee achievements 
Don’t wait for performance reviews or end-of-year events to give employees the recognition they deserve. Use whatever electronic communication system you have in place to speak well of your employees and their achievements. Perhaps institute a peer-recognition program in which employees can praise each other for jobs well done and identify behaviors that led to their success.

Say “thank you” every day
How managers behave sets the tone for the workplace. Regularly saying “thank you” fosters a more welcoming and respectful environment and helps employees know that they’re appreciated.

Appreciation can be given in many ways, but whether you show it through engagement, involvement, investment, or recognition, you’ll be making gratitude a key value of your workplace culture.