As we celebrate Employee Appreciation Week at Gilbane Building Company, we are pleased to share a conversation with our Chief People Officer, Katherine Johnson. In this Q&A, Katherine delves into the essence of employee appreciation, its impact on job satisfaction and engagement, and how it ties into our ‘people first’ culture. She shares her personal and professional experiences, shedding light on the significant role of recognition in team morale and productivity. This discussion underscores Gilbane’s commitment to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued and appreciated, reinforcing our belief that our people are our most important resource.
Q: What does employee appreciation mean to you personally?
A: Before coming to Gilbane, I had never worked for a company that had a week dedicated to employee appreciation, so when I think about what it means to me personally, it really goes beyond recognition of the hard work of our people. It’s about creating visibility for everyone’s accomplishments and fostering a positive environment. We are celebrating our people not just for the work that they do, but the people who they are.
Q: How do Gilbane’s “People First” culture and inclusive practices tie in with employee appreciation?
A: Our ‘people first’ culture ties heavily back to our core value of caring. As a privately held company, we are able to think beyond short-term gains and prioritize our people in every decision we make. While we recognize the need to run a successful business, we firmly believe that our people are the cornerstone of that success. Employee Appreciation Week is tied to our cultivation of an inclusive culture as we want to emphasize that our people are truly our most important resource.
Q: What role does employee appreciation play in job satisfaction and engagement?
A: Appreciation goes beyond recognition. It creates a sense of belonging—a feeling that our people are an integral part of the team, woven into the fabric of the organization. This sense of belonging fuels engagement, motivating them to invest their best efforts and their best selves.
Q: Beyond formal recognition programs, what are some ways leaders, managers, and peers can show appreciation?
A: Recognition is powerful to individuals in different ways. Not everyone gets the same level of energy based on how they get recognized. As leaders, we must start with knowing our people first to understand how they’re going to receive recognition in the most positive and meaningful way. Other ways to show appreciation can include giving a person exposure to certain types of projects or leaders, giving new opportunities to learn, or investing in the development of an individual.
Q: Can you share an example in which employee appreciation had a significant impact on team morale or productivity?
A: An example that comes to mind is a team working on a project where each individual was recognized for their unique contribution to the project’s success. This type of recognition empowered everyone on the team as they were all able to listen to and recognize each individual’s different strengths, which led to the successful outcome.
Q: How do you encourage leaders at all levels to actively participate in recognizing employees?
A: From my perspective, I like to remind leaders that their success comes through their team’s success. The value behind recognizing your employees for their great work is critical to driving the organization’s success. Leaders need to keep in mind that appreciation helps inspire higher performance and that high-performing teams consist of team members who bring different strengths to the table. This conversation is important to have with all levels of management and senior leaders because it increases the level of awareness the more you talk about it.
It’s Bigger Than Appreciation
To Katherine, it’s bigger than appreciation. Gilbane’s ‘people first’ culture and value of caring serve as the driving force behind how employees experience their work environment. It’s about fostering a sense of belonging. When our people arrive at work each day, they not only receive appreciation but genuine care. We take the time to understand who our coworkers are, which enables us to draw out the best from each individual, as they find joy in their work and the connections they forge.
