This Year: Celebrate The Awesome!

Yes, friends, it's 2018! What are you going to focus on this year?

This year, one of my focus areas is growing my appreciation and celebration of people doing awesome stuff! We need to spotlight people who are BEING awesome people: being kind, generous, loving, patient, going the extra mile... and DOING awesome work: creating new solutions, implementing innovative ideas, and takings risks, making mistakes and learning from them.

Celebrating people doesn't have to cost much. Here are a few ideas that are free or very inexpensive but that can be extraordinarily meaningful:

1. Poem: I had this amazing boss that wrote the best and funniest poems for her employees! She would include inside jokes and nuances about the person's job and character, and she only did it on very special occasions when she felt it was warranted. It was very special and sought after to receive a Barb Karlin poem!
2. Donation: Does your employee love fostering dogs or kittens? Donate to their favorite charity and have them send an acknowledgement with a personalized letter.
3. On The Spot Reward: Create a treasure chest full of $5 or $10 gift cards and assorted small ticket gifts (i.e. movie tickets) for an impromptu recognition. Put them all in envelopes to make it a surprise. When you see someone go above and beyond, jump in to reward someone on the spot. Grab nearby employees, say a few words of appreciation, and invite the employee to choose from the treasure chest.
4. Potluck Party: The pictures below are from November 2017, during our annual staff appreciation potluck party. This year, I went a little over the top, complete with handwritten cards, a personalized gift for each person (e.g. I bought a P!NK album for the person who shared they loved her new song), a full hot chocolate bar with a travel mug and individual flavors based on their tastebuds, and a fun selfie photo booth. Everyone brought their favorite holiday dish and shared why it was meaningful to them. I decorated with my private collection so no cost to the company. The company bought the main dish. Cost $100 or $10/person.

How do you celebrate your employees? I'd love to hear your ideas... Comment below.