Celebrations, surprises, and random acts of kindness are key components of building a Passion and Provision company and creating a company culture employees look forward to coming to each day. When employees work at a place they enjoy and feel cared about, they'll find fulfillment in their contribution and do good work.
If you work with a group of people who love to have a good time and be festive, then throw a party! At Half a Bubble Out we have an annual Christmas party, but if the holiday season is one of the busiest times for your company, then you can have a party any time of year! We also make it a point to celebrate employee birthdays with their favorite dessert and a card signed by our staff. The key to any good party is to celebrate the person or occasion.
A simple hand-written thank you note goes a long way. Personalizing the message takes it to the next level. For example, if you're writing a card to a vendor or employee, include how many years of service they have committed, a characteristic of theirs that you appreciate, etc. These kind words will show that you care about them personally and notice the abilities they bring to your business.
Write an email or blog publicly thanking the people that help keep your business going and send it out to your email list - no links to sales pages or calls-to-action at the end. Just a simple letter saying thank-you or celebrating a company milestone.
Everyone loves food! Bring coffee and pastries to your staff meeting or announce a last-minute late afternoon meeting and bring treats just to say 'thank you' for a wonderful week. Take it a step further by coming prepared with stories that stand out from the week, month or year, or sharing attributes about your employees that you appreciate.
Employee gifts don’t have to be grandiose, just thoughtful. This can be easy if you pay attention to their hobbies, what they like to collect, where they like to vacation etc. Buy their favorite coffee grounds for the office, leave their favorite pens on their desk, or even leave a note with a gift card, etc. You'll be a boss that pays attention and your employees will be grateful.
With the hustle and bustle of every day life, your employees may find themselves having a difficult time balancing their work and personal life. If it makes sense for your business, offer flexible scheduling to help employees get through busy or challenging times with ease and still love coming to work. If they're less distracted about getting everything done, they'll actually be more productive. Just be sure to set expectations that deadlines still need to be met and work still needs to get done.
Giving your employees a bonus check shows them that you truly value what they do. Of course, bonuses aren't always feasible for a small business, but even a little bit goes a long way - especially when employees least expect it.
Showing employees that you care is all part of a passion and provision strategy that creates stability, reduces stress and will deepen relationships. Having both Passion and Provision is a game changer in helping you build and lead a company filled with profit and joy that leads you to more freedom and greater impact.