It’s that time of year – break out the scarves, put on some Michael Bublé, sip on a pumpkin spice beverage and start sharing the gratitude. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because the simple act of being grateful and saying thanks is something we could all probably do a bit more in our day to day. Anytime of year is a great time to thank your team, however, if saying “thanks” is more challenging for you, then use this season to your advantage.
5 Easy Ways to Thank Your Team
- Card or Note: in our tech-centric world of text messaging, e-cards and word processing, we forget how nice it is to receive a handwritten note, card or even a sticky note. Writing requires extra effort and time, therefore people understand and appreciate the consideration. If you’re not great with words – fear not! Hallmark is still in business.
- Public Recognition: If you have someone who loves the lime-light and appreciates public recognition, find the right moment to do so. Consider a team call, a quarterly meeting or specific recognition event – you get the picture. You can also opt to use a “shout out board” or “wall of fame” and post notes to recognize your team for a job well done.
- Team Activity or Event: Spend a day with the team outside of the office. Maybe it’s a light-hearted afternoon of bowling; a trip to an amusement park; a nature walk in a beautiful, local park or pirate boat cruise down the river (yep, we actually did that one). Whatever you choose, make it fun!
- Food: We can’t have a Thanksgiving related post and not mention food. Offer your team a free lunch or dinner on the company. Do you have a team of chocolate lovers or maybe they’re into green smoothies. Whatever they crave, send some tasty treats as a sign of your gratitude.
- Wellness: Research shows that healthy employees are productive employees. A gift card to the spa or a fitness class are great options. How about an extra day off or even a half day off? Giving your team time to recharge is always a winning strategy.
There are tons of ways to say thank you, but the important thing is remembering to do it and doing it often. With that said, I’d like to give a shout out to the team at IEP! Thanks for all you do to make IEP successful and a great place to work.
What’s your go to strategy to thank your team? Do you need to create one? Ask me about IEP’s coaching and team-building activities to help you get started.
Wishing you the Happiest Thanksgiving!
Ginny Garzón
Director of Operations
