1. Praise something your coworker has done well. Identify the specific actions that you found admirable.
2. Say thank you. Show your appreciation for their hard work and contributions. And, don't forget to say please often as well. Social niceties do belong at work. A more gracious, polite workplace is appreciated by all.
3. Ask your coworkers about their family, their hobby, their weekend or a special event they attended. Your genuine interest - as opposed to being nosey - causes people to feel valued and cared about.
4. Offer staff members flexible scheduling for the holidays, if feasible. If work coverage is critical, post a calendar so people can balance their time off with that of their coworkers.
5. Know your coworker's interests well enough to present a small gift occasionally. An appreciated gift, and the gesture of providing it, will light up your coworker's day.
6. Send a brief written note about a job well done. There is enormous power in the written word.
7. Almost everyone appreciates food. Take coworkers or staff to lunch for a birthday, a special occasion or for no reason at all. Let your guest pick the restaurant.
8. Create a fun tradition for a seasonal holiday. Draw names for their Secret Santa gift exchange. LuAnn Johnson who works in Human Resources at the Schaller Anderson Mercy Care Plan says, "We celebrate Treat Tuesday, every Tuesday between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We match up departments or people who don't normally work together as a unit and assign a day to provide gooey, healthy or scrumptious treats for the other groups. It's a great mixer, an opportunity to show off our culinary skills and a morale builder - to say nothing of the sugar high".
9. Bring in bagels, doughnuts or another treat for staff and coworkers. Offerings such as cookies or cupcakes, that you've baked personally, are a huge hit. (Have you tried baking cupcakes in ice cream cones? People love them.) Another hit? Bring chocolate - chocolate anything.
10. Last, but not least, provide opportunity. People want chances for training and cross-training. They want to participate on a special committee where their talents are noticed. They like to attend professional association meetings and represent your organization at civic and philanthropic events.

We can help.... take a look at a few of these on-demand training courses that can offer additional ways to be a great leader:

• Supervisor 101
• Bringing Out the Best in You and Others
• Creating a Culture of Customer Service Excellence
• Supervisor as Coach

Leadership training opportunities are offered in many ways to meet your organization's specific needs and budget. Take a look at our different training approaches, including these On-Demand traning courses:

Supervisor 101
Bringing Out the Best in You and Others
Managing Staff in Stressful Times: Celebrations and Challenges of Leading Multiple Generations
Dealing With Difficult People
Creating a Culture of Customer Service Excellence
Supervisor as Coach
The Healthy Leader: Learning to Lead Yourself