How much do people like recognition? Short answer: a lot.
People leave jobs every day, not because of workload or pay, but because they don’t feel appreciated. And most of us know we should give more recognition — we see opportunities, we notice effort — but the timing feels off, we get busy, and we move on.
Gladys Stern said it well: “Silent gratitude isn’t much good to anyone.”
In today’s remote and hybrid work world, meaningful appreciation is even harder. We don’t see each other in hallways, we don’t grab coffee together, and we rarely have casual one-on-one moments. Most interactions happen in structured meetings, which makes spontaneous appreciation far less likely.
So we need a simple, practical way to make recognition a habit.
Here’s the solution: The 30-Second Email.
The moment you notice someone did something well, stop what you’re doing and send a quick note. Email, Slack, Teams, text — whatever your workplace uses.
Use this simple formula: AQI
A — ActionWhat did they do?
Q — QualityWhat positive trait does the action reflect?
I — ImpactHow did it help the team, project, or workplace?
Example:
Hi Emily, I just want to say I appreciate your engaging presentation last week.It shows your commitment to the team and to doing excellent work. Because of this, we will have stronger support from senior leadership on this initiative.
That’s it.Simple.Fast.Powerful.
Recognizing people digitally:
Builds trust
Strengthens relationships
Boosts motivation
Increases your influence
And genuinely feels good to give
Have this structure ready so you don’t have to think — just send.
Try it today. One person.One message, 30 seconds.
You will be surprised how meaningful it is.