It’s Not All About the Money…a Simple Thank You Goes a Long Way!

Apr 21, 2023

by Sarah McVanel, Chief Recognition Officer, Greatness Magnified

I’ve said it before; I’ll remind us all again. A paycheque – even a good one – is table stakes. As the Beatles crooned, “Money Can’t Buy Me Love.”

Yet more evidence recently released by Gallup that a ‘recognitionless’ (or recognition-lacking) workplace is turnover territory.

Here’s a quote from a recent article about this study:

“While pay and working conditions go a long way in making people feel more favourably about their jobs, evidence is mounting that job satisfaction really comes down to a more basic human need. A 2023 report by Achievers Workforce Institute found that a staggering 79% of employees would rather stay in a job where they feel valued, even if it meant making less money. People want to feel appreciated for the work they do — telling your employee a simple “well done” might be the difference between whether they stay or go.”

It’s Not All “Show Me the Money” Anymore

Money isn’t enough to motivate people’s hearts and minds. Has it ever been, though? Maybe the data is just catching up to people’s human needs and wants. In our employee experience-driven workplace of today, people have agency and options to exercise their needs and wants.

(Read more about this from the younger generation’s perspective in a recent article I wrote that you said you loved.)

Do you provide an environment of meaningful connection, purposeful contribution, and acknowledgement of impact? Do people leave or sign off at the end of the day knowing that their work matters to you, your peers, and your customers? Have they heard why their effort mattered and why they need to return the next day?

They could go anywhere. Why will they come back to YOU tomorrow?

BTW, if you think it’s selfish, take a second look. People may step away from you but want to step toward you. They want to mean something to you, not to stroke their ego, but to know they are making a difference. They want to do great work for you and with you. They want to see a future with you.

If they get to trade their time, experience, education, effort and attention for a paycheque, they want it to have an ROI. They know the stakes are too high (a byproduct of living through the most significant health crisis of our lifetime) and that time is too precious to waste. You get one life. But you get many careers (if you want it, and workforce trends say people do.) You certainly can have many workplaces.

Recognizing someone today – no, right now – means that people are more likely to affirm, “I choose you.”

Revisiting the Job versus Vocation Continuum

One last thought. Before you think that some jobs are truly just a paycheque, and you’d love to make this article more meaningful, but really, what can you do? Think again.

We spent a lot of time discussing how some people see their work as a job, others as a career, and others as a vocation. How can we put people in such a tidy little “work motivation” box? Pretty contrived right?

Our biases get questioned and thrown out as pressure rises, and our current workforce trends require us to throw out the assumptions we’ve held that weren’t solidly evidence-based and even less helpful in practicality. Instead, let’s look at a workforce as a group of people who want to be engaged and are experiencing varying levels of engagement.

In other words, just like (more) money can’t buy you love, less money doesn’t equate to less love (and impact).

Many jobs are about tasks done. However, the ripple effect is enormous:

• The server creates a memorable experience families will remember for the rest of their lives.
• The environmental services aid notices a resident is not doing well and alerts the nursing staff.
• The dietary technician double and triple-checks to ensure there are no allergy flags.
• The mechanic apprentice points out brake-pad wear that had gone unnoticed.
• A line worker sees an opportunity to improve safety.
• A grocery clerk smiles at everyone they see in their 8-hour shift and turns around dozens of people’s days.

Our world needs everyone at work – and I mean everyone – to make it better for peers, customers and beyond. Think of how many hours people work on any given day. That is how many hours of impact people can have! Why wouldn’t we recognize that so that impact can exponentially increase?

What You Have Control Over…Now

Even if you’re not the boss or HR, you have control over moving the needle on recognition. Because everyone needs to know they are valued, every peer can ensure that happens. Someone might be too humble to see what that value to others is – such as the rockstars I just noted – however, you see it working alongside them. Don’t miss an opportunity to point it out. They are more likely to do more of it.

What we recognize is reinforced. And that is priceless.

PS – if we can help, we’re here for you. I will personally answer your email at info@greatnessmagnified.com

In case you missed them before, here are more ideas as to how you can show your people how much you value them:

• We’re in the Business of Earning Staff, Not Hiring Them: The Quiet Quitting Revolution

• How to Keep Your Closest Colleagues and Best Staff From Quitting

• Retention Hack: What to Say to Make Your Best Colleagues and Staff Stay