To inspire your staff to give their all every day, you have to be able to show them how much you appreciate their efforts.

It’s easy to thank your employees with bonuses and awards when they accomplish something big, but it’s important to make sure that you also recognise them when they do something small that makes a big difference over time. Here are 10 easy ways to celebrate your staff achievements so you can keep your team motivated and productive throughout the year.

1) Treat the Team
Whether it’s a company party, some goodies from your favourite bakery or an afternoon of bowling, there are plenty of ways to show staff appreciation. Anything you do with your team outside of work hours is sure to make them feel appreciated. The key is thinking creatively—and you know they’ll appreciate that most of all!

2) Host a Lunch Celebration
Hosting a lunch event is an easy way to celebrate achievements without spending too much money. Your employees will enjoy getting away from their desks for a bit and experiencing some quality time with coworkers. It’s also a great chance for management to get away from their computers, too!

3) Recognise Them Publicly
One of the best ways to show your employees you care is to recognise them publicly. Not only does public recognition make employees feel valued and appreciated, but it can encourage other employees to strive for the same recognition. Ways you could recognise them publicly could be through a team meeting, staff room notice board and even a company-wide email.

4) Ask What Can I Do For You?
Sometimes simply asking the question of what you can do for your employees can be a great way to show your appreciation. Reward them with a meal or night out, gift cards, or time off (especially if they’ve put in extra hours during a busy period). However, you decide to celebrate their achievements and professional milestones—recognise your staff! There’s nothing quite like celebrating someone else’s success.

5) Create a Culture of Gratitude
Employees are more likely to be loyal and inspired when they feel appreciated, and giving them opportunities to celebrate their accomplishments helps create a culture of gratitude. When it comes time for your team members’ one-on-one meetings, or during a company meeting, let everyone share about what they’re grateful for. Be sure to lead by example by expressing appreciation often—publicly if possible—and privately in your own one-on-ones with staff members.

6) Give Personal Gifts
Thinking of a nice way to reward your staff is hard. So if you’re having trouble coming up with something special, consider giving a personal gift such as a handwritten card thanking the staff member. You can even make the card yourself, which will have more meaning than anything you could purchase in store. You could also consider giving vouchers for petrol, books, bunnings and so on. These are all great ways to celebrate achievements and show that you care!

7) Create Unique Experiences
Consider unique ways of treating employees- dinner at their favourite restaurant or getting tickets for them at a local concert will make any employee feel valued and celebrate achievements with no barriers. It also shows that you take an interest in their lives outside of work—something they may not even realise they wanted until they receive it.

8) Make it Physical, Make it Tangible
This is a fairly easy way to show staff appreciation. Decide on a tangible reward for each milestone, and have staff members sign a sheet when they reach their goal (with pictures, if possible). Then hang their sheet on a wall in your office or send them home with it. Staff will be proud of reaching these goals and feel appreciated by you. Don’t forget to do something equally as thoughtful when they hit their targets—this can be as simple as taking them out for coffee or scheduling a team lunch.

9) Observe & Gather Feedback
If you’re not asking for feedback, it’s likely that people don’t feel like they can give it to you. The most difficult part of celebrating achievements is figuring out where and how. Ask team members individually or in groups about their favourite achievement, what they liked best about it, and what they would change if they could do it again. You might want to gather anonymous surveys with these questions on them.

10) Thank them in Writing
Thank you letters don’t need to be long and drawn out—in fact, it’s better if they aren’t. Something simple that takes just a few minutes will make all of the difference. If your staff member made an effort that went above and beyond or helped fix a big issue, get their manager involved too.

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