“Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” – Richard Branson
How amazing is this quote? It’s pretty good right? And it’s also true!
This rings true especially at Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling, with the exception of one thing: no one is an employee. We are all team members. That’s right. Even the owners don’t call themselves our bosses. They consider each person, including themselves, to be equals. Talk about refreshing!
Everyone in leadership with our company knows that if they put the team members first, then the team will then take care of the customers with amazing service. Our team members are shown they are appreciated and valued every day through mutual respect and admiration for the expertise they bring to their positions with Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling.
But there are many ways team members can be shown how valuable and appreciated they are by their team in their place of employment. If you’re in a position of leadership, and you’re looking for some ideas on how to show your team that you appreciate them, here’s a short list that can help:
Award ceremonies
This reminds me of elementary school, when kids were given awards for things such as perfect attendance (I received this award in kindergarten). Awards ceremonies can reinforce something positive about the team member, such “Best Customer Service,” “Perseverance Award,” or even “Team Member of the Month.” While some people may not want to stand in front of their peers and receive recognition, it’s still affirming to hear that they’re appreciated and what amazing attributes they bring to the team environment.
Highlight employees on social media platforms
This is something we do. If you scroll your feed on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or even LinkedIn, you’ll see us proudly showcasing our team members. We celebrate their birthdays, work anniversaries, accomplishments, weddings, births of children and other milestones. Show off your team members on social media, and let others see how proud you are to have them on your team.
Organize team games
How fun does this sound? Seriously! A friendly competition between team members, or even your own company Olympics. The games could include an egg race, three-legged race, hula hoop competition or other fun games.
Go out for a field trip/company outing
These are great ideas! I’ve also worked with companies that do this, and it’s really nice. The opportunity to get away from a desk in an office, mingle with team members about things other than work, and to enjoy something fun…it just can’t be beat! Think of sporting events, festivals, concerts, amusement parks, etc.
Company-backed lunches
I’m not talking about pizza parties in the office. While those aren’t bad ideas, they run the risk of falling flat. If it’s possible, treat your team to lunch at a sit-down restaurant. I remember while I was working at a local law firm, they once took us to a very popular Brazilian restaurant to thank us for all the hard we put in. Another time, a lawyer I was working under treated my team members and I to lunch at a café to thank us for our hard work and dedication to his cases that quarter. It was a nice reward from our superiors, and it was validation that they saw the hard work we put in every day.
Spa days
I’m a personal fan of this. How many times have you sat at your own desk and thought, “I’m so stressed,” or “I could really use a massage for these knots in my shoulders.” I will tell you that I’ve had these thoughts many times while sitting at my own desk, and I’m not a member of leadership. But I worked in an office that decided to send everyone to a spa for massages and facials. I will say that it was one of the most wonderful rewards from an employer.
I should mention that Employee Appreciation Day is March 3rd this year, but you don’t have wait for that day to celebrate your team members. You can let them know every day how much you appreciate them, their hard work, loyalty and dedication to the company. Showing them with acts of kindness are great, but don’t forget the power of telling them in person. Seeing their faces light up will put a smile on your own face, as well as a pep in their step. We could all use that kind of positivity in the workforce!