When was the last time you told someone that you appreciated them? If it's been a while, then you're not alone. Most people don't express appreciation very often. However, the power of appreciation is undeniable. When you tell someone that you appreciate them, it can motivate them to do better and make them feel positive. This blog post will discuss the power of appreciation and how it can benefit both your personal and professional life.

People need to feel appreciated.

Appreciation is one of the things people want to have but don't receive adequately. It seems it's easier to focus on the faults and mistakes that one makes instead of the good things. Nothing is wrong with giving feedback, as it helps pinpoint areas for improvement. However, if only negative feedback is what we receive in our lives, both in the workplace and in our personal lives, it can damage our self-esteem and make us think we are worthless and doesn't do anything well. A little appreciation can go a long way in creating positivity and boosting the morale and motivation of people. People will be more willing to work harder when they feel valued. So if you are in a position to give positive feedback to someone, do so. It can help the other person more than you think, and you don't even have to be a manager or boss to appreciate somebody. As a friend or coworker, you can give a little nudge to your peers once in a while. Appreciation breeds more positive emotions, affecting the entire organization or group and being beneficial to all.

The effects of giving positive feedback

Appreciation is feedback in a positive form. But unfortunately, when we talk about feedback, we might usually think it is in the form of a criticism meant to pinpoint our mistakes and reprimand us for doing them. However, not all feedback is negative, which is where appreciation comes in. Appreciating somebody is not challenging to do, and it's all a matter of recognizing the positive things instead of only the negative ones. The effects of appreciation are significant.

• Receiving appreciation makes someone feel valued, especially in a company setting. An employee gets a sense of belonging, and it makes them think that they are not just another cog in the machine, which can easily be replaced by somebody the moment something wrong happens. Outside the workplace, appreciating somebody makes them feel included, preventing negative thoughts from occurring.
• Appreciation gives purpose. When you know that your work and actions have value to the organization or group by being appreciated, you gain more reason to work and strive harder to be better. A person can also feel secure when they know their work has value in the organization. Not being appreciated could make one think they can quickly get fired from the company should unfortunate circumstances arise.
• Appreciating somebody helps us see the good in other people. No matter how bad a person can be to our perception, if we take the time to recognize their good points and appreciate them, it can change how we see somebody as a person. In addition, appreciation helps remove negative stereotypes, such as seeing somebody as worthless. Finally, it can help strengthen relationships and foster better communication between people.
• Being appreciated brings greater happiness to one's life. So it's normal to feel happy when somebody praises your work or thanks you for your efforts. When somebody is happy, it brings more optimism to one's life. It's easier to get motivated when you are full of positivity, leading you to pursue actions that can help you achieve goals and get better.
• In the workplace setting, giving recognition to employees who do a good job, no matter how small they may be, can boost productivity and employee morale. In addition, satisfied and happy employees can open more opportunities that a company will otherwise not achieve if they can't persuade their employees to work by not appreciating what they do for the organization.

How to appreciate somebody

You don't have to be a genius or take specialized lessons to appreciate somebody. It's all about the willingness to see the good in others and not limiting praises to yourself only. If your coworkers and friends are also happy and motivated, it can affect you and make things easier to accomplish. However, it can be a challenge for some to praise somebody, especially those not into mingling with people much. With practice, appreciating somebody becomes more manageable, and there are some things you can take note of to do it.

• When you see somebody do something good, you can try developing the habit of praising for a job well done. A little "Nice!" or "Good job!" can do wonders for the person receiving the praise.
• If you have difficulty praising somebody personally, you can try sending your appreciation through e-mail or a written note. It's not as impactful as saying it in person, but you still give the person the value of gratitude for what they have done.
• When somebody does something that benefits you and positively affects your life, try to thank them for what they did immediately. Immediate positive feedback help confirm to a person that what they did is correct, so they won't commit any mistakes moving forward.
• In terms of acknowledging group work, try to be specific and appreciate each task done by an individual. For example, praise a person for what they did instead of saying the group has done well. You give merits for each achievement and help others know who deserves the praise.
• Reorient your thinking that it's not only the negatives you should see in a person. Meaningful relationships form when you focus more on positive behaviors. Sure enough, people commit mistakes but don't make them feel they have not done anything right by criticizing them all the time. Instead, throw some appreciation sometimes; even better, regularly give it to others whenever they accomplish what they need to do. Appreciation doesn't need to happen only during the highest moments of victory and achievement in life.

Feeling appreciated makes a big difference in a person's life. It evokes feelings of inclusion and makes somebody feel good, leading to more motivation. In addition, it can boost people's confidence and create a positive culture within a group. Therefore, we should do our best to show some appreciation to the people who help us get through our daily lives because we might not be able to reach the prestige and status we have today without them.