Employee Recognition & Appreciation – Why You Should Use Both

Both recognition and appreciation are important in the workplace. While many people use these words interchangeably, there's a big difference between them. For leaders who want their teams to thrive, it is important to understand the distinction.

According to Harvard Business Review, “Recognition is about giving positive feedback based on results or performance.” While recognition can be motivating and exciting, it’s conditional and based on past performance. It is rooted in the employee achieving their desired outcome, not in the journey they took to get there.

In contrast, appreciation is about acknowledging someone’s inherent worth. As HBR puts it, “The point isn’t their accomplishments. It’s their worth as a colleague and a human being.” Appreciation is current and validating. It can build trust and lead to deeper connections.

Giving appreciation in a professional setting can be as easy as listening, telling people what you value about them, and just checking in. When employees feel appreciated by their managers, they are more likely to remain with their company. A Glassdoor Employee Appreciation Survey found that although 68% of participants said their boss shows them enough appreciation, 53% said feeling more appreciation from their boss would help them stay longer at their company. This means that the more you give appreciation to your employees, the better.

For more information on employee appreciation, read Harvard Business Review’s Why Employees Need Both Recognition and Appreciation.