They’re putting in effort, but they don’t feel like anyone notices.
They share ideas, but nothing seems to change.
They show up every day, but it feels like nobody really cares.
If you’re nodding along, you’re not alone. Most teams don’t need pizza nights, beanbags, or another meeting that could’ve been an email. What they do need is simple: to be seen, to be heard, and to be appreciated.
1. To Be Seen 👀
Humans crave recognition, not just for results, but for the effort that happens along the way.
When people feel invisible, disengagement creeps in fast.
A leader who notices and acknowledges creates an environment where people actually want to show up.
3 Tips to Help Your Team Feel Seen:
Make eye contact and greet people by name every day.
Call out effort in the moment, not just outcomes at the end.
Learn one personal detail (family, hobby, goal) and check in on it.
2. To Be Heard 🎤
Being heard isn’t about always getting your way, it’s about knowing your input matters. When leaders ask for opinions and then ignore them, trust erodes. When they listen with the intent to understand (not just reply), teams step up and contribute more.
3 Tips to Help Your Team Feel Heard:
Ask open questions: “What’s your view on this?” instead of “Do you agree?”
Play back what you’ve heard: “So what I’m hearing is…”
Close the loop — let people know what happened with their input, even if the answer is “not now.”
3. To Be Appreciated 🙌
Appreciation is the cheapest retention strategy in leadership. A paycheck brings people in, but feeling valued is what keeps them. Leaders who show gratitude consistently build loyalty that no perk can match.
3 Tips to Help Your Team Feel Appreciated:
Say “thank you” specifically (what they did, why it mattered).
Celebrate small wins publicly, not just the big ones.
Write one handwritten note or quick message a week — small effort, big impact.
When your team feels seen, heard, and appreciated, everything shifts: trust grows, motivation rises, and results follow.