If you’re reading this, we appreciate it. As the holidays get closer and closer, the idea of being productive seems to be less and less enticing. But there are always those select few, the Holiday Heroes, who hang in there and keep performing where others fall short.
Even though motivation drops a resounding 63% during the holiday season, you will undoubtedly hear stories of employees who have gone above and beyond the normal call of duty to provide the best possible customer satisfaction or sell the best deal.
Often times, these good Samaritans are called upon to help a distressed patron who is short on time, money, or luck. In other situations, these professionals see the best opportunity to close a big deal that embodies a great fit for both companies.
In either case, these inspiring examples demonstrate that caring for customers goes hand-in-hand with better business. But how can we thank these people for their dedication and devotion? Here are 3 quick-action ideas for how you can show your appreciation for these holiday heroes.
1. Focus on the Little Things
Sure, getting that big promotion or raise is great and will help to retain your most valuable employees, but as you can see from our past blogs, cash isn’t always king.
So, rather than breaking the bank and risking not driving the results you need with big endeavors, focus on the little things. Life’s all about them anyway.
Now, it can be easy to get caught up in the everyday work life and let some of these examples slip through the cracks, but the more and more you reinforce them, the better off you’ll be. For starters, make sure to…
- Ensure that a “good job” is communicated, whether it’s through a full-blown reward system or a simple “nicely done” after a sale or project is completed.
- Let them know they’re essential to the business. Nobody likes working without a purpose. Give them something to believe in by explaining how and why they’re an important part of the organization’s overall strategy.
- Ask how they’re doing and actually listen. It sounds simple, but simply having a meaningful conversation will make these hard workers feel appreciated and give you a good sense of organizational morale.
2. Make it Personal
Whether you’re the CEO of a corporate enterprise, the President of a small business, or the manager of a few salespeople, a personal, human touch is always needed while giving thanks.
There’s a few things that you can do to show personal gratitude for those you wish to motivate.
- Personal notes. Taking a sentiment from part 1, it’s the little things that really keep people going, and people tend to hold on to tangible signs of appreciation. With that in mind, sending them specifically written notes of gratitude can have a lasting impact on morale and motivation.
- Have a bell to ring. It may seem a little cliché, but it’s a fun way to say thanks. When a salesperson or an employee hits a certain goal, go up to them with the bell and let them ring it themselves. This creates personal connections between you and the employee and the employee with the rest of the office.
The more personal and thoughtful the thank you, the more valuable it will be for the recipient. For example, the CEO of Home Depot saw some of his personal notes to employees hung up in the departments he visited.
3. Run an End of the Year Promotion
You can reward those end-of-the-year performers with a quick, motivating, and easily repeated promotion. There are plenty of ways you can go about this, which you can look into in more detail here.
One strategy involves rewarding for exceptional service. Does your office have any Holiday Heroes? Honor and thank these people with a reward, like a trip to St. Lucia, for their excellent service and keep motivation high during this low-motivation time.
Creating promotions such as this can allow you to unlock the full potential of your salespeople, employees, and even customers without breaking the bank.
Conclusion
End of the year motivation, much like any other time of the year, is all about engaging with your performers on a human level. The difference comes from the level of attention that you need to maintain during this period. Although many people in the office may be slacking, even yourself, having a fun, engaging, personal, and rewarding system of gratitude can benefit all.
Photo by Wilhelm Gunkel on Unsplash
