How can you show appreciation to remote and hybrid teams?

1 Personalize your praise

One of the most powerful ways to show appreciation to remote and hybrid teams is to tailor your praise to each individual. This means not only using their names, but also highlighting their specific contributions, skills, and strengths. For example, you could send a personalized email, video message, or card to thank them for completing a project, solving a problem, or helping a colleague. You could also mention something personal about them, such as their hobbies, interests, or goals, to show that you care about them as a person, not just as an employee.

2 Be timely and consistent

Another key factor to show appreciation to remote and hybrid teams is to be timely and consistent. This means not waiting too long to recognize their work, and not being selective or sporadic with your feedback. You want to create a culture of appreciation, where your team members feel valued and appreciated regularly and sincerely. To do this, you could set up a schedule or a system to track and acknowledge their achievements, such as a weekly or monthly shout-out, a recognition board, or a reward program. You could also use different channels and formats to communicate your appreciation, such as phone calls, emails, chats, or social media.

3 Encourage peer recognition

A third way to show appreciation to remote and hybrid teams is to encourage peer recognition. This means creating opportunities and platforms for your team members to praise and thank each other, as well as to receive feedback and support from their colleagues. This can boost their morale, confidence, and collaboration, as well as create a sense of community and belonging. For example, you could use a tool or a platform that allows your team members to send and receive kudos, badges, or points for their work, such as Slack, Trello, or KudosBot . You could also host virtual events or meetings where your team members can share their successes, challenges, and learnings, as well as celebrate milestones and birthdays.

4 Offer flexibility and autonomy

A fourth way to show appreciation to remote and hybrid teams is to offer flexibility and autonomy. This means respecting their preferences, needs, and boundaries, as well as empowering them to make decisions and manage their work. This can show that you trust and appreciate their professionalism, expertise, and creativity, as well as enhance their motivation and satisfaction. For example, you could allow your team members to choose their work hours, location, and tools, as long as they meet their deadlines and goals. You could also involve them in setting and reviewing their objectives, expectations, and feedback.

5 Provide learning and growth opportunities

A fifth way to show appreciation to remote and hybrid teams is to provide learning and growth opportunities. This means investing in their development, skills, and career, as well as challenging and inspiring them to grow and excel. This can show that you value and appreciate their potential, performance, and aspirations, as well as increase their engagement and loyalty. For example, you could offer your team members access to online courses, webinars, podcasts, or books, as well as mentorship, coaching, or feedback sessions. You could also assign them stretch projects, roles, or responsibilities, as well as recognize and reward their achievements.

6 Show empathy and care

A sixth way to show appreciation to remote and hybrid teams is to show empathy and care. This means being aware and supportive of their well-being, emotions, and challenges, as well as expressing your concern and compassion. This can show that you appreciate and respect them as human beings, not just as workers, as well as strengthen your relationship and trust. For example, you could check in with your team members regularly, not only about their work, but also about their personal lives, health, and feelings. You could also offer them resources, tips, or assistance to cope with stress, isolation, or burnout. You could also send them gifts, cards, or tokens of appreciation, such as flowers, chocolates, or vouchers.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?