Employee and client appreciation is a key part of any successful business. Feeling appreciated goes a long way toward better productivity and overall happiness at work. In fact, a Glassdoor study revealed that 80% of employees say they’re motivated to work harder when shown appreciation by a superior for their work. This month, let your clients and employees know how much they mean to you with a few gestures that will keep your company in the foreground rather than the background. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Better “Thank You” Gestures
Sending a thank you card is nice, but it isn’t necessarily a “stand out” gesture. Try tailoring your gift to the individual. Is it for a client who is always drinking coffee or tea? Find a nice travel mug and include a gift card for a local coffee shop near their location. Is it for an employee who has been working harder than usual? Reward them with a dinner-for-two at a high-end restaurant.
The holidays can be a hectic time for employees and their families. Travel delays can strike without warning and preparing for family to visit can cause extra stress. Make things a little easier on everyone by giving employees days off before and after the holiday breaks. They will appreciate the extra vacation time to spend with their families.
Company Field Trips
Getting out of the office with your team for the day can be a great opportunity to connect with employees and boost their happiness quotient. Let them give you some ideas of what they would enjoy and make the most of it. Look around your area for events, tours, or fun day-trip locations like a winery, beach, state park picnic, go-karts/arcade, art classes, and more, or even stay in the office with a “board game day” and a fancy catered lunch. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures for social media!
When you give your employees the chance to form bonds outside of work, everyone wins. Incentives like this are also attractive to potential employees who want to work for a fun company and become part of your brand identity. Clients will be impressed and you will inspire confidence in your team when they see your employees engaged in team-building activities.
Client Loyalty Rewards
Just as retail or food establishments reward customers for their continued patronage, so should you with your best clients. Think outside the box and avoid standard dinner and drinks fare as a reward, save that for a more genuine gesture of thanks.
Why not bring lunch of their choice to their location? You can take advantage of the time and share insights or tips in your area of expertise. Offer a free workshop lesson on a helpful topic that could help their business. For referrals, send a card with a fun coupon that they can redeem for services with you or for pampering with a massage or facial. Memorable and useful rewards mean your clients will be motivated to continue to send business your way.
Unexpected Appreciation
Do something memorable for birthdays, promotions, or new additions to their family. A gift card that aligns with the event or a unique experience to celebrate. If they’ve been doing business with you for a long time, a nice discount on their next invoice with a personalized message on the bill will mean the world to them.
Another great idea would be to hold an after-hours client appreciation party and invite all of your clients to your location for a few hours with food, drinks, activities, door prizes, and swag bags. Along with showing your appreciation, this provides an excellent networking opportunity that can be beneficial for clients, as well as for your business.
Showing appreciation for employees and clients can come in many forms that go beyond what is listed here. Even simple, unexpected gestures can work wonders for morale and productivity. Now is a great time to start, but keep it going to show how much you value their business and commitment on a consistent basis and you will see the difference throughout the year.
