In many organizations, employees go through their days assuming their hard work goes unnoticed by co-workers and, especially, their bosses. Feeling this way, these employees will lose motivation, and productivity will be mediocre at best.

In a very real way, acknowledging employees’ efforts and saying thanks can tip the balance between success and growth and stagnation and failure.

If you’re a leader who wants to harness the power of thanks (or even an employee who wants to start a grassroots movement), read on for six how-to tips:

Always say thank you. The few seconds it takes to say thank you will improve another person’s mood, day, and productivity level. You’ll also be making yourself more approachable, and over time your team will relate to you more positively. I have found that expressing consistent and heartfelt recognition, when it’s deserved, is a better long-term motivator than money.

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