It's about time.

One of the best ways to show appreciation to someone is by giving them time. But do you have time to give the time?

The last two appreciation languages we will focus on are around quality time and physical touch. The premise of both of these concepts is rooted in being visible in your workplace.

As the founder of your company, you are responsible for every aspect of your organization, ensuring the company thrives and is able to continue to employ your workforce. But with that responsibility can come less time spent actually in the workplace. What many owners forget is that the people that are working with you are there because they believe in you and the company. Time with YOU is what means the most to them. Emails and thank you gifts are nice, but there is nothing likegetting to be with the person that attracted them to the company in the first place.  When it comes to giving time, being present is an easy place to start. Start with hosting in-person meetings or if you have a virtual workforce, host a video meeting so you can all see each other. Host a coffee hour, workplace lunch, and one-to-one meetings where your employees can interact with you get to know you and feel you are taking the time to get to know them.

Another way to show appreciation to your team members who value quality time is to give time off.  An afternoon off to spend with their family or an afternoon off to coach their son’s soccer team will be greatly appreciated.  Keep in mind that volunteering with community organizations is also valued by people who appreciate quality time.  You can capitalize on this by doing group activities outside the office.  Be sure to capture those moments and activities for your social media and marketing.

As for physical touch, you have to be aware of personal boundaries. Take notice of who on your team likes to greet people with a handshake or a pat on the back.  Chances are those people are comfortable with physical touch and might greatly value that as a sign of appreciation. Also, consider the culture of your workforce as well as where your company is based. In some cultures, touch is not accepted, while in others it can be considered rude if there is no type of physical touch. The easiest way to know can be to simply ask.

Here are some other resources to assist:

5 Languages Spotlight: Quality Time

5 Languages Spotlight: Physical Touch

Do you have an employee appreciation program? Are you a WBE? Jump into the community and let us know what works for you and your business.