Everyone wants to feel appreciated for the work they do. They want to know that they, and their work, matter. If businesses want to keep quality employees, it's important to recognize the hard work of the employees. It's not always necessary to provide financial bonuses, however. Here are some ideas to get started:

Teamwork
A great way to make employees feel valued is to encourage teamwork. When someone is part of a team, he or she is more likely to feel valued and accountable. No one wants to let their team members down. Team building activities can be as simple as a team lunch or as complex as a company-sponsored trip to some exotic locale for a structured team-building program.

Celebrate Every Success
It's important for employees to feel a sense of accomplishment, so every success, no matter how small, should be recognized. Make it a point to ask every morning for yesterday's success stories. You can also send out a company email that recognizes small successes of employees for that week.

Thank You Notes
As a manager, you should keep thank you notes on hand and make a point to write a short note to recognize a job well done, a great attitude or any sign of improvement. A handwritten note is much more personal, and shows that you really care.

Employee of the Month
One method to recognize individual contributions is to provide an employee of the month program where a plaque is prominently displayed in the office for all to see. Naag Tag has unique plaques and awards you should consider to recognize these employees. It helps to have the names displayed in the office to boost morale and make it an important goal.

Monthly or Quarterly Rewards
At the end of the month or the quarter, consider giving employees a small reward to thank them for their hard work. This could include a team lunch, company apparel, snacks from the break room and more. This small gesture can go a long way in making them feel appreciated.

Verbal Recognition
Don't be stingy with compliments. If someone, whether your employee or not, does something positive, say so. Sometimes a simple thank you can make a big difference. Mention positive behaviors in staff meetings.

When people feel appreciated, their productivity rates, attendance and attitude improve. A key trait of a good leader is someone who makes their employees feel respected, appreciated and understood. An added bonus is that happy employees are easier to manage. A little effort can pay off in many ways.