It takes a village to run a successful property management company. Without the hard work and tireless dedication of your team, your business wouldn’t be where it is today. As such, taking the time to let your employees know you appreciate them can be one of the best investments you make. What’s more, when people feel appreciated, they’re more engaged. In other words, everyone wins.

So how can you express your gratitude? In addition to paying a fair wage and offering generous benefits, there are a number of thoughtful ways a manager can show appreciation for his or her employees. If this sort of thing doesn’t come naturally to you, give the following suggestions a try.

Praise them regularly and publicly.

Perks and monetary rewards are nice, but offering public praise and frequent, positive feedback is one of the best ways to show your employees that you appreciate their efforts. Look for opportunities to offer words of affirmation and be generous with your recognition. 

Make it personal.

You may have a dynamic property management team, but it is made up of individuals – each of whom brings something unique and special to the table. Make a point to connect with your employees on a more personal level. Small gestures, like remembering someone’s birthday or showing empathy when a worker is sick, can go a long way toward making your employees feel valued.

Invite, listen to and respect opinions.

Another great way to make your property management employees feel acknowledged is to invite and encourage their feedback. A workplace where employees feel that their ideas are heard and taken into consideration is one where creativity and innovation will thrive. As a leader, your focus should be on gaining the trust and respect of your team. Listening to their opinions and putting their ideas into action is a great place to start.

Treat them to events and outings.

If you really want to recognize your employees, consider treating them to a company-sponsored event or outing. Depending on your budget and the size of your property management team, this could be as simple as a luncheon, or it could be as elaborate as an all-expenses-paid trip to a tropical locale. It’s not so much the event itself, but rather an opportunity to extend a sincere ‘thank you’ to your team.  

Give them a chance to excel.

Each employee on your team has his or her own unique strengths and abilities. One way to recognize your staff members is to learn what their passions are and then position them to be able to apply and nurture those passions. For instance, you might send a team member to a conference he’s shown interest in or assign another to a special project that provides her opportunities for growth.

At the end of the day, there’s really no cookie-cutter solution to making your employees feel appreciated. Use the five tips above as inspiration for developing your own unique employee appreciation strategy. The efforts you put in today will pay off in the long run through the loyalty and dedication of your team.