Showing gratitude toward my employees is a cause that’s near and dear to my heart. It’s the small, simple gestures that actually make a big difference in engagement and boosting morale. When I joined Lehigh Hanson six years ago, morale was low and attrition was high.
We took a multifaceted approach to improving morale, which included renovating our office space, creating a line of sight to corporate objectives, and increasing our training requirements. The other key to the puzzle was to create a sense of belonging and show our team that their hard work is appreciated.
[ Need some fresh ideas for team rewards? See our related story: 10 ways leaders can go beyond "thank you." ]
During the past six years, we’ve implemented a number of programs and initiatives to support this goal, from Thanksgiving potlucks and awards to birthday lunches and company swag. Here’s what we’ve done to say thanks:
“You Rock” awards: We want to recognize people for the unsung acts and extra efforts they make when no one is looking. If we catch you doing a customer service minute, working a weekend, working late one night, or bailing someone out, for example, we’ll give you a $50 or $100 American Express gift card. It’s a quick, easy, and much-appreciated gesture just to let you know that we’re thankful that you went the extra mile.
Celebration recognitions: When it’s your birthday, I take you out to lunch. We break bread together. I keep these groups small — maybe six or so at a time. It’s also an opportunity for me to take the pulse of the team: How’s morale? How are people doing? What’s causing angst? In addition to their birthday lunch, I’ll give them a handwritten birthday card and slip in a Starbucks gift card for a small, personal touch. It’s an easy way to engage and celebrate your employees.
Casual day: Comfort matters. When I joined Lehigh Hanson, people were not permitted to wear jeans. I made a proposal to the CEO to implement a jeans day, and after some convincing, he agreed. This led to an initiative to partner with some of our vendors to provide our team with high-quality apparel to wear on Fridays: We feature the vendor’s logo on one side and ours on the other. We also started “jersey days.” During the World Series, Stanley Cup, or NFL playoffs, or college sports games, we encourage our employees to show their support. It’s an excuse to dress down a bit and have some fun. Our team loves it.
Thanksgiving potluck: Six years ago, another leader and I started a tradition in which our two departments got together to host a Thanksgiving potluck. We buy the meat and ask our teams to bring their family’s favorite dish. More departments have joined in over the past few years, and this tradition has grown from close to 400 people to more than 700 participating. It’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get together.
Taking the time to ensure that your team feels valued and appreciated doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ve learned that a little thanks goes a long way.
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