A Creative Way to Thank Your Employees
One of my daughter’s earliest jobs was a shift lead at Starbucks. I once met her for lunch at the end of her shift and went into the coffee shop to wait. Unseen by her, I sat in the back and caught a glimpse of her work persona that amazed me.
She remembered customers by name and knew their drinks by heart. She provided cheerful support and direction to employees while juggling other store duties. She was articulate, confident, and professional—a leader. I was blown away. It’s not that I wasn’t aware of her strengths or the greatness she has to offer the world, but having awareness and having a front-row seat are two very different experiences!
As parents, we send our children out into the world, and we rarely have the chance to see them in a work environment—a place where they establish themselves on a foundation that we hope includes bits and pieces of our best selves.
Our employees sometimes spend more of their waking hours with us than anyone else. We watch them grow, see them shine, and we do our best to lead them. We thank them genuinely and often, but I’ve found it especially rewarding to expand that expression of thanks. To their parents.
Unconventional? Yes.
Personal, specific, and engaging? Yes.
How?
You have to be in tune with your employees to know if this is a gesture that would be meaningful to them. You have to know them. And if their parents aren't an option, you can write a letter to their spouse instead.
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After that, it's a half-hour investment. It takes that long to ask for the address, pen the letter, and mail it. Speak to your employees' character, their contributions to the company, to the department, or both. Write about something specific that was said or accomplished. Talk about the positive impact the employee has on the workplace, other people, and you.
I can tell you from experience that this gesture tells your employee that you see them, value them, and are willing to go the extra mile to make sure the people who love them know it.
When?
There isn’t a magic formula for?when. Do it as inspired, but since this week finds us closing in on Thanksgiving Day—what better time than the present?
Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to
put it into words is all that is necessary.
-Margaret Cousins
What creative ways have you found to thank your employees? How has your boss shown appreciation to you, and how did it impact you? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!
Thank you for stopping by! I'm grateful for our LinkedIn community and all that I've learned this year from old and new friends.
Glideapp Website and Airtable database manager for Assembly Care
3 年Peggy Bodde I love sending very personal thank you cards or any other means of saying thanks to anyone I can.
Author - Speaker - Tech. Writer, DevOps Project Manager, Software Engineer, MBA-IT Management
3 年Not an employee, Peggy, but rather a Cutco Knife salesman. The nervous young man, a university student just trying to pay his bills, was polite and professional. He did his demo, sharpened my knives, thanked me for my time and went on his way. I don't even recall if I bought anything from him, but suspect I did. What I do remember is uncovering a fact about this young man that he did not leverage in his presentation. I learned that his father was one of the coaches for the Seattle Seahawks. I managed to find a mailing address for the Seahawks corporate offices, and penned a letter to the young man's parents describing what an upstanding, fine young man he is. About a week later I received a follow-up call from him thanking me for writing to his parents. He told me that his mother actually cried when she read it. Totally worth the time and effort!
Glideapp Website and Airtable database manager for Assembly Care
3 年Wow, what a creative way to say thank you!
Author of No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season | Speaker | Certified Coach | Host of A Season of Caring Podcast | Dementia Care Educator
3 年That is such an amazing idea, Peggy. I would have loved to have my dad hear about the value and character my boss saw in me. I would never have thought of it. Thanks for sharing!
Author of Unconditioned Love: Healing Hearts and Minds in a Time of Conflict and Division. I'm a wall-breaker and safe-space-maker who’s passionate about uniting people.
3 年This is great Peggy! When I meet my husband’s coworkers, they often tell me specific things that they appreciate about him or how he’s helped them in unconventional ways. I treasure those stories, and I know he feels appreciated when they share that with me. Awesome recommendation!