There is a famous scene from the show Mad Men that includes this exchange between ad exec Don Draper and his protégée Peggy Olson, who was on the verge of quitting:

Don: It’s your job. I give you money, you give me ideas.

Peggy: And you never say thank you!

Don: THAT’S WHAT THE MONEY IS FOR!

Employees everywhere understand Peggy’s point of view and bosses everywhere understand Don’s point of view. But the fact is, showing a little bit of appreciation is important for keeping employees engaged and productive. You don’t have to roll out the red carpet, but there are simple ways to show your IT team appreciation.

Acknowledge Wins

When someone goes above and beyond, when they exceed expectations or when they put in a lot of work and get a great result, take time to acknowledge it. Tell them they did a great job and point out the specific actions or behaviors you noticed along the way.

Say Thank You

These two simple words can go a long way with your employees.  Make “thank you” a part of your daily vocabulary, so it becomes second nature to show gratitude and appreciation to your employees.

Show an Interest in Employees

Learn your employees’ spouses’ and children’s names, learn about their hobbies, and ask them about their lives and interests outside of work. Getting to know employees as people shows you value them.

Offer Flexible Scheduling

Make sure to post a coverage calendar at least two months out so people know when they are on call and can balance their time. Consider allowing people who are on call to leave work a little early or work from home one day to help them feel appreciated and reduce the chances they will feel burned out.

Take Them Out

At the end of a major project, show your appreciation by taking everyone out to lunch. Catered lunches are nice, but if the rest of the staff gets to pick at the leftovers, it feels less special. Going out as a unit to share a meal shows appreciation and allows the team to relax for an hour outside the office.

Provide Development Opportunity

Talented tech pros want to learn and grow their careers, and by investing in their success, you are showing appreciation for their hard work and that you value their contributions and want them to stick with the organization. Whether it’s paying for a conference, reimbursement for tuition or code camp or sponsoring in-house training, show thanks by investing in their futures.

Looking to Improve Engagement and Retention on Your IT Team?

If you are looking for more tips on improving engagement and retention on your IT team, PEAK Technical Consulting can help. We have a proven track record of helping employers overcome some of their biggest IT hiring challenges. Contact us today to learn more about the ways we can help you.