5 Useful Strategies for Dealing with Difficult People

Whether you manage a floor of employees for a large company or you work with varying personalities for your own business, chances are you will run into someone who is difficult to deal with.

You are probably picturing that person right now…  The employee that comes in late, turns in half-done work, and has the nerve to complain about pay.   Or maybe you’re thinking of the customer that is never satisfied and tries to coerce you down from your prices on every sale.

Whoever you have in mind, these 5 strategies will help equip you with the right armor to create function-able relationships with even the hardest to work with people.

For purposes of example only, let’s give this difficult person the nickname of “Sunshine” (because when they leave the room, the sun starts to shine again!).  Try picturing your Sunshine as they are mentioned through out this article.  Let’s begin:

Strategy 1.  Don’t take Sunshine’s behavior personally.

O.K., here comes Sunshine again and they are on a roll.  They haven’t stopped their rant for the past 3 minutes and you have had about enough!  Your temperature is rising and you are about to let them have it!

Before you do, just remember to remain calm.  Sunshine is just acting the way they always do.  There’s nothing new about their behavior here.  It is important that you remember not to take their behavior personally.  Chances are, Sunshine has this effect on everyone they encounter, and you are no exception.

Maintain your composure and try ignoring Sunshine’s personal attacks.  Key in on the facts of their argument so that you may offer a valuable solution.  Then, in as calm of a demeanor that you can maintain, factually give them the answer to their problem.  You may notice that as you maintain your calm demeanor, Sunshine may start to get a hold of them self as well.  Don’t let Sunshine get to you or bring you down to his/her level.

Strategy 2.  Treat Sunshine with Respect

Plain and simple… No one likes to be disrespected.   If you decide to try and make Sunshine feel inferior, stupid or incompetent, its not going to go over well.  Make sure that you maintain a respectful demeanor when speaking with Sunshine.  Your comments will always be received better if a respectful tone is used.

Strategy 3. Try to See the Best In Sunshine

While this is one of the strategies that is definitely easier said than done, noticing the positive qualities in your friend Sunshine is a plus.  You may find that your viewpoint of Sunshine may change altogether.    Or perhaps you are right, Sunshine is just a negative person- but maybe has some valid viewpoints that can stand to be addressed.  Whatever the case, try to find something positive about your special friend, and you will find that you may be able to endure your time with them a little longer.

Strategy 4.  Acknowledge any positive changes in Sunshine- Immediately!

Even if it is the most minute, miniscule thing you can possibly think of, if it is positive, acknowledge it!  Let Sunshine know that you see a change for the better, and that you are impressed.  Not only will Sunshine feel a surge of confidence, but the ego stroke will definitely make your world a little less stressful.  Especially if your work environment is usually filled with critique, a little compliment can go a long way.- even for good ole’ Sunshine!

Strategy 5.  Kill’em with Kindness!

The fact is that people usually react to what they are given.  If you are given a mean evil attitude, then you’re instinct is to give it back.  So the next time Sunshine waltz’s in your face in his/her usual manner, try putting on a smile (not a smirk-but an actual heartfelt smile) and calmly addressing the issue.  You pal Sunshine will do one of  two things: 1. Change his/her demeanor and become a more calm, reasonable person to deal with or 2. Act really weird-ed out by your unusually friendly behavior and walk away looking confused.  Let’s face it, either way it’s a good thing, and Sunshine isn’t a problem for you anymore.

It’s like my grandmother always said- you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, so why not be sweet.  It’s an oldy, but goodie!

Dealing with difficult people is never a cut and dry scenario, but hopefully you can put these 5 strategies to use at some point or another.  It has always been my opinion that we learn most from others, so please post your view points or suggestions.  What do you think is a good strategy for dealing with the “Sunshine” in your world?

Photo Credit: Danilo Rizzuti

Give more than a gift this year- Give an Experience!
On a tight budget?  Looking for a unique gift to give this year?  Premier Gift Solutions offers gift collections that allows the recipient to select a gift of their own preference from brand name items such as appliances, jewelry, housewares, and much more!  This easy to use program is different from traditional gift cards in that they don’t display a price, so your recipients won’t know how much you spent!  Every gift will be personalized to the recipient, as well as presented in a quality presentation envelope, specific to your companies needs -AT NO ADDITIONAL COST!  All of your gift recipients are sure to find something that they will love!

Get your Free Gift Consultation Now!  Karisa Cloutier at 754-200-1064 or toll-free at 877-754-1630 for a budget specific gift consultation for your business.

Learn More about Giving a Gift Experience!

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7 Holiday Gift Tips for Businesses

Oct 18

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So this year you’ve decided that you really want to make an impression with your holiday gifts! That’s great!  Giving holiday gifts to clients or employees will always show them how much you value and appreciate them.  Here are a couple of suggestions to assist you in choosing gifts that generate a lasting impression of your company!

1. Try to personalize your gifts.
When gifts are personalized, it tells the recipient, “You are important to me”.  Even if it is something as simple as writing their name to a gift tag or envelope, it shows the gift recipient that you care.

2.  Try to be fair in your gift giving.
When you are giving gifts to employees, it is imperative that your gifts are equal across the board. Giving different gifts to different employees can stir up a ton of negative feelings.  Try to give the same thing to everyone, particularly if they are in the same department or job category.

3.  Try to stay way from company promotional merchandise.
If you’re really trying to make an impression with your gifts this year, definitely stay away from the promotional items.  Sometimes promotional items portray the message “Oh, we just pulled some stuff out of the company closet to give to you this year” instead of ” We really appreciate you and want you to know it.”  Try to give something different from the norm this year.

4.  Be as generous as your budget allows.
These two quotes speak mountains about the value of customers , clients and employees to any business…

“There is only one boss: the customer, and he (or she) can fire everyone in the company from the chairman and down, simply by spending their money somewhere else“   – Sam Walton

“Take care of your customers and employees first, and profits will follow.” – Jack C. Taylor

Your customers, clients, and employees are the backbone of your business.  Don’t skimp when you don’t have to!  There are some great gift solutions available to you, even when you’re working with a tight budget.  And with a little creativity, you can find a gift option that both maintains quality standards, and stays within your budget.  Bottom line, give the people who keep your business going the best that you can afford to give.

5.  Try to present the gift in person.
To really blow the socks of your gift recipients, give them their gift in person!  Accompany your gift giving with a smile and sincere “Happy Holidays!”  Sometimes, the in person delivery can mean more than the actual gift itself. If you’ve never done this before, try it this year. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the responses you receive!

6.  Try not to make your gifts too gender specific.
Don’t assume that the women would appreciate perfume, while the men want sports memorabilia.  Try to give gifts that will satisfy a variety of interests and can be appreciated by everyone in general.

7.  Remember that Holiday Gifts are not Incentives
Giving gifts at the holidays will always be a positive boost to company morale, and therefore produce good results in the workplace.   However, it is important to remember that a holiday gift is not an incentive for work or work performance.  Although gifts can be used as an incentive in the correct setting, holiday gifts should always be considered a gifts of appreciation.

Choosing a great company gift is never easy, but with a little thoughtfulness, sincerity, and creativity you can choose a gift that exudes the ultimate in appreciation to your gift recipients!

Give more than a gift this year- Give an Experience!
On a tight budget?  Looking for a unique gift to give this year?  Premier Gift Solutions offers gift collections that allows the recipient to select a gift of their own preference from brand name items such as appliances, jewelry, housewares, and much more!  This easy to use program is different from traditional gift cards in that they don’t display a price, so your recipients won’t know how much you spent!  Every gift will be personalized to the recipient, as well as presented in a quality presentation envelope, specific to your companies needs -AT NO ADDITIONAL COST!  All of your gift recipients are sure to find something that they will love!

Get your Free Gift Consultation Now!  Karisa Cloutier at 754-200-1064 or toll-free at 877-754-1630 for a budget specific gift consultation for your business.

Learn More about Giving a Gift Experience!

Gift Collections
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Just in case you’re unsure of the direction you should be heading in, here are some gifts to avoid this holiday season… The Top Ten Worst Corporate Gifts!

Posted in Appreciation, Company Culture, Customer Retention, Customers, Employee Engagement, Employee Incentives, Employee Motivation

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The Top 10 WORST Corporate Gifts!

bad giftWe’ve all heard the saying, “It’s the thought that counts”. 

Well, it’s not entirely true.  The fact is that if you want to make a lasting impression on your clients or employees, you really should give it some forethought.  To the recipient, gifts say a lot about the gift giver.  Think about it, if you have ever received a gift that you thought was just awful, how did you perceive the person after they gave you the bad gift?  Did the question “What were you thinking” come to mind?

Here are a couple of suggestions to stay away from in the gift giving category.  Try to steer clear from a few of these suggestions, and it should keep you off of your clients and employees “Bad Gift Giver” list this year!

(In descending order, 1 being the worst)

10.  Poorly Funded Gift Cards or Gift Certificates

One of the worst experiences I’ve ever had, was receiving a $20 gift certificate to a fancy store, only to find that I couldn’t buy one thing in the store with that amount of money.  Everything in the store was more than $20.  Now as I looked around for something I could throw a little extra money in for, I thought to myself  “Didn’t somebody in management know what type of store this was?” It just didn’t make the management appear to be the brightest of individuals. The same goes for gift cards.  If your budget is strapped, look for other creative ways to gift this year.  The $10 gift card is NOT going to make the big impression you’re going for.

9. The Branded Polo Shirt 

I have to admit that this isn’t the worst gift to give someone.  However, giving any type of clothing is always a gift risk.  The standard “small” can completely swallow a petite female, while the largest extra large can be a midriff to a big guy.  And if it’s the wrong color, forget it.  That polo will be thrown in the Salvation Army bin and forgotten quickly!

8. Company Mugs

I can’t really think about why this isn’t a good gift other than the fact that my cabinet is overflowing with logo’d mugs. I always have clean mugs left in my cabinet no matter how much coffee or tea I drink.  They are always there taking up space.  Actually, if I get another logo’d mug  I may just lose it completely.  Enough said.

7.  “Scaling Down” your gifts

We all know that budgets are tight these days, but don’t make it blatantly obvious in your gift giving.  When a company starts off giving awesome gifts, and then scales down to grandma’s knitted booty’s, it leaves a sour taste in the mouths of the recipients.  Let me give you an example:

2008- $ MP3 players for everyone! Whoo-hoo!
2009- $ 20 Grocery Store Gift Card
2010- $ A company Logo’d Pen and Pad set.

See what I mean?  Kind of deflating right?  Work with your budget, really crunch the numbers and get creative with your gift giving.  Don’t leave your recipients wanting for more.

6. The USB drive

Personally, I LOVE getting USB drives!  That’s because I’m a wanna be IT nerd.  However, I understand that everyone else is not!  Most people who get USB drives don’t even use them.  They end up lodged in the back of the desk somewhere collecting dust.  And those that DO use them, spend most of the time formatting them to get the company advertisements removed to make more space!  Honestly, unless you work in the IT field, USB drives don’t make the best of gifts.

5. The Calendar

Chances are, many people in the corporate world are already working with a fully functional calendar.  They probably aren’t in need of another one with your logo on it.  Calendars are fine as an extra “throw in gift” every once in a while, but as a holiday gift, it leaves much to be desired.

4. The Mousepad

The average person is never in the market for a mousepad. And with laptop sales on the rise, they won’t need one in the future either.  Someone got creative once and gave me a notepad/mousepad combination one year.  I actually can’t even tell you where that thing is right now.

3. The Paperweight

Now, perhaps I am too young to know (I seriously doubt it), but when were paper weights ever actually necessary?  Most corporate execs work inside, so I can’t really see the need for a paper weight inside an office.  My only memory of paperweights is playing with them on my father’s desk when I was growing up.  Other than that, I really can’t think of a functional use for one.  A doorstop maybe?

2. The Logo’d Pen

Ah yes, the infamous logo’d pen.  It always seems like a great idea to the OWNER of the business that the pen is on, but for the recipient here are the typical various uses:

  • The pen that is left on the counter to take messages
  • The pen that is left in the car, just in case
  • The pen that is forgotten after it is received, and left on the desk of the person who gave them the pen.

1. Stress Ball

And finally, the worst gift to give is a logo’d stress ball.  I am sure that you don’t want your brand/logo associated with stress.  As a matter of fact, it’s kind of ironic to some employees when they receive stress balls from their employers.  It can be interpreted as a way of relieving current employer imposed stress, or even worse, giving a stress ball as a gift says:  “Hey, take this stress ball, you’ll need it for what’s coming!”- Not a good message to send your employees!

Obviously, this whole list is my slanted opinion of what bad corporate gifts are, but I’m open to suggestions.  What are your opinions?  Better yet, what is the absolutely worst corporate gift you’ve ever received? Leave your comments below! I look forward to hearing from you!

Give more than a gift this year- Give an Experience!
On a tight budget? Looking for a unique gift to give this year? Premier Gift Solutions offers gift collections that allows the recipient to select a gift of their own preference from brand name items such as appliances, jewelry, housewares, and much more! This easy to use program is different from traditional gift cards in that they don’t display a price, so your recipients won’t know how much you spent! Every gift will be personalized to the recipient, as well as presented in a quality presentation envelope, specific to your companies needs -AT NO ADDITIONAL COST! All of your gift recipients are sure to find something that they will love!

Get your Free Gift Consultation Now! Karisa Cloutier at 754-200-1064 or toll-free at 877-754-1630 for a budget specific gift consultation for your business.

Learn More about Giving a Gift Experience!

Gift Collections
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Fantabulous Customer Service Tips- Because Your Competitor is just a click away!

Aug 28

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“In the world of Internet Customer Service, it’s important to remember your competitor is only one mouse click away.” -Doug Warner

Recently I read an article about a popular customer service guru’s experience with a well known company. Apparently, this company refused to honor an expired offer, which she had already paid to have 6 months earlier.

The issue was quickly resolved by another involved company, and the customer did end up happy at the end, but the whole ordeal got me to thinking.  If that company knew who they were dealing with, would they have handled the situation a little better?

You see that customer may not have been an A-list celebrity that walks the red carpet at televised events, but she is  well known as an expert in customer service.  More importantly, she has over 12,000 followers on twitter.  And because she had an unhappy experience, she decided to tweet about it- to all of them.  Not only did that company lose my business, but they probably lost about 12,000 more customers as well.

Word of mouth advertising has been regarded as one of the most effective marketing strategies for years.  Today, if you  provide a bad experience, you won’t just have one unhappy customer, you may end up with a lot more.  Those customers will read about the experiences of their friend, and then quickly click onto the competitors website to get their services elsewhere.

“A dissatisfied consumer will tell between 9 and 15 people about their experience. About 13% of dissatisfied customers tell more than 20 people.”-  White House Office of Consumer Affairs, Washington, DC

Here are a couple of Fantabulous customer service tips to make sure your business never ends up on the ugly side of a Twitter or Facebook post:

1. Create a unique experience for your customer, not just service.

It’s easy for a consumer to go somewhere and get service, but it is unique for a consumer to have an experience.  What can you provide your customers that is unique?  Perhaps throw in a free item, certificate, or maybe just do something totally off the wall that the customer would never expect!  Anything that you can offer your customers that is unique to you will make you stand out from your competitors and keep your customers coming back for more.

2. Learn about who your customers are.

Let your customers know you value them.  If you can, call them by name!  Conduct telephone surveys of your loyal customers, find out WHY they remain loyal to you, and then use that to your advantage.  Send them a card on their birthday and a holiday card during the holidays! Many business never take the time to learn who they have for a customer, and ultimately end up losing them.  Why work so hard to get a customer just to lose them in the end?  Keep your customers by knowing who they are.

3. Train your employees to be customer focused.

This starts at the hiring process.  If they are not customer oriented, then don’t hire them.  If you have employees who are not customer focused, then do your best to find someone who is.  Training and development is also key.  It is imperative that you develop effective practices and that your employees know them.  Also train them on how to resolve problems and recover customers in a time of crisis.

The Bottom Line: You never know the influence that a customer has with their friends and community.  Negative posts about your company can effect your business tremendously and send loyal customers straight into the arms of your competitors.  Always go out of your way to provide the most Fantabulous customer service possible to each and every customer you are privileged to service, and you will never find your company name mentioned in an angry customer post!

Resources: Myra Golden Media, Myra Golden, Customer Loyalty Expert

Posted in Appreciation, Customer Retention, Customers, Dealing with People

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Wanted: Employee Engagement- Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose are Vital!

Aug 28

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Sometimes the key to better employee performance is so simple it just smacks you in the face! You can’t just throw extra money or incentives in your employees face and expect them to magically perform for you. This animation of Dan Pink’s talk at the RSA, shows us the truths behind what really motivates humans- Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose.

Posted in Dealing with People, Employee Engagement, Employee Incentives, Employee Motivation

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The Essential Elements of Employee Engagement

Aug 16

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Have you tried everything to try to get the most out of your employees? Do you feel as if you feel as if you’ve been up and down the “engagement ladder” only to end up empty handed with no resluts?

Perhaps you are missing some of the key ingredients necessary to complete your “engagement cake”! Take a look at this video and make a checklist of the elements that your company has in stock. Your solution may be as simple as just a missing ingredient!

Posted in Appreciation, Company Culture, Employee Incentives, Employee Motivation

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How To Change Company Culture By Literally ‘Burying The Hatchet’

Aug 12

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Learning how to change company culture to foster a more positive environment isn’t easy. This is especially so if division in the ranks is to blame for a negative atmosphere.

This brings me to a great example of how to change company culture by literally burying the hatchet.

Relations between two departments had deteriorated badly over the years. One was a state government agency, the other from the private sector. The culture of these two “partners” could not have been more different.

At a team-building workshop, top managers from both sides decided to “bury the hatchet.”

They bought a large, new hatchet at the hardware store in town. On one side, the government agency wrote their festering complaints. On the other, the private sector group wrote their protests, moans and grumbles.

After agreeing to work more positively in the future, both sides held a ceremony on the lawn. With photographers present, they dug a deep hole and literally “buried the hatchet.” This symbolic ritual sent a strong, positive signal that the past was past. Both sides took responsibility for the future.

Can you see these two teams standing next to a pile of fresh dirt? Can you hear their pledge to start again anew? Can you feel the commitment as they walked away from a ceremonial hole in the ground?

They took a positive step to learn how to change company culture for the better by acknowledging problems in the open and vowing to move forward.

Key Learning Point For How To Change Company Culture

To overcome old wounds and learn how to change company culture you may need to work on a symbolic level.

Action Steps For How To Change Company Culture

Think about where your partnerships could be improved. Find a common phrase that captures the solution: “bury the hatchet,” “patch things up,” “water under the bridge.” Perform a ceremonial rite or ritual that engages everyone in a gesture of new work and healing.

Copyright, Ron Kaufman. Used with permission.Ron Kaufman is the world’s leading educator and motivator for upgrading customer service and uplifting service culture. He is author of the bestselling “UP! Your Service” books and founder of UP! Your Service. To enjoy more customer service training and service culture articles, visit UpYourService.com.

Posted in Company Culture, Dealing with People, Employee Motivation

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Branding through V.I.P. Service

Aug 3

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customerserviceLongevity and uniqueness in the business world is almost a lost art form. Trying to separate your brand from the masses of other businesses can be exasperating. A half a century ago, business was fairly simple- you would get together with a couple of colleagues, decide on your brand, and if you were able to properly fund your idea, you would get started on advertising and marketing.

Today, with the power of the internet, the opportunity to own your own business is even more simple. With almost little to no budget, you are able to take an idea from its humble beginnings, to the pillar of success. The difference now, is that branding has become more difficult. With the onslaught of so many new businesses, everyone is almost a carbon copy of one another. If you’ve seen one brand, chances are you’ve seen the other, and with no distinguishable difference between the two. The question is: How can you make your brand stand out from all the rest?

Branding through V.I.P. service

Tony Hseih, the founder of Zappos, centered his business model around the idea of outstanding customer service. He figured out that when customers experienced more positive associations with their company, the more they would create repeat business, referrals and word of mouth advertising as well. His concept of V.I.P or WOW customer service developed into a successful billion-dollar corporation.

The experience that a customer has with a company can produce both positive and negative results. It goes without saying that if a customer has a negative experience, they will talk about it. The same is true about positive experiences. However, it should be known that a negative impact could have more of a detrimental impact on business profits…

A dissatisfied consumer will tell between 9 and 15 people about their experience. About 13% of dissatisfied customers tell more than 20 people.     

Source: White House Office of Consumer Affairs, Washington, DC

Therefore, it should be the goal of all businesses to make the best impression possible with all of their customers. It actually costs 5 times as much to obtain a new customer than to retain an old one, so keeping and maintaining customers for repeat business is a necessity. To start this process, here are a couple of suggestions:

• Make customer service a priority. If you own your own business, go out of your way to make sure that your customer gets everything they need and more. If you are an employer, make sure your employees know that customer service is priority at your company.

• Make WOW a verb that is a part of your vocabulary. Not only should you strive to meet the needs of your customers, but also you should strive to go above and beyond. WOW is the verb that the Zappo’s company has ingrained into the very strain of their company, and every employee is expected to WOW each and every customer. Not just the standard service, but WOW service.

• Be accessible. Make sure customers know that you’re available for them. Post your phone number visibly on your website and promotional items. The more accessible you are, the more trust that is gained, and the more repeat business is earned.

So, to distinguish your brand, develop a culture of providing V.I.P. or WOW service to every customer.  This practice will not only help your brand to stand out amongst your competitors, but it will also bring a stream of referrals, repeat business, and increased profit!

clickheread

References: Hsieh, Tony. Delivering Happiness, A path to profits, passion, and purpose.  New York: Business Plus, 2010.

Posted in Appreciation, Customer Retention, Customers, Dealing with People, Employee Incentives, Employee Motivation, Referrals

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Recognize the Positive!- Recognition Programs during the Recession

Jul 28

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With the economy still in repair, it is more imperative than ever to provide a positive atmosphere for your employees.  The recession will not last forever.  At some point, if not already, your company will begin to thrive again and move forward.  Until then, what type of message are you sending to your employees if you are not acknowledging them for a job well done?  If you provide a positive foundation for your employees now, it will result in a thriving workplace environment for the future.

You can begin by thinking about some of your most important business challenges and begin to center a recognition program around it.  Perhaps implementing a weekly greeting card recognition program for the employee who stepped up to the plate that week.  You could also start a sales contest or service award program.  These programs can be powerful and inexpensive ways to get your employees juices flowing, while continuing to reach the goals of your company.

Building a successful recognition program is the key to getting ahead in a hurting economy.

Contact Premier Gift Solutions for a variety of recognition awards or call to if you need assistance in creating or refining a recognition program for your company.

Here’s to your success!

karisassignature

Posted in Employee Incentives, Employee Motivation

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Employee Motivation and Engagement Tips for the Workplace

Jul 3

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employeengagement

Employee motivation and engagement is a necessity for a healthy work environment. One way or another, employees need to feel empowered, appreciated, and competent in what they do. Without these feelings, employees tend to feel unheard and unrecognized. When this occurs, employees become disconnected and disengaged from their jobs. Once you have disengaged employees you’re in a heap of trouble, because the end result is lack of productivity. In a managers dream world, people would perform as expected simply because they are paid to do so. But the harsh reality is that we are all human, and the need to feel important is ingrained in all of us.

Tip #1- Notice what your employees do well and tell them!

Most managers who are not in tuned to the needs of their employees are quick to jump on a mistake that was made. As soon as a discrepancy found, they are marching over to their employees desk for the correction, or sending a biting email without a second thought. After enough encounters like this, the employee becomes numb to their reprimands.

Managers that have engaged employees will not only gently correct things that are wrong, but will make a habit of recognizing what is done right. Additionally, the manager will go out of his or her way to let that employee know that their efforts are appreciated. This can be accomplished in non monetary ways, such as leaving a positive note on a desk, or thanking the employee publicly at a weekly meeting. Noticing the positive actions of an employee isn’t a difficult task, it is simply a matter of exemplary supervisory skills. Train yourself to be a “good finder” in others.

Tip #2- Implement Employee Training Programs

If an employee is unsure of his or her responsibilities, they will not perform up to their capabilities. Another way to increase employee engagement is to make sure employees know what is expected of them by periodically implementing employee training programs. These programs can be a refresher course on current policies or perhaps training on a new concept. Properly training employees also serves as a valuable tool in getting the employees excited about their tasks and aids in employee motivation. The more confident your employees are, the more your employee engagement will increase.

Tip #3- Develop a sense of team

By nature humans have a need to belong- a need to be a part of something great. As a matter of fact, employee engagement is directly tied to the team concept. Therefore, another boost in your arsenal is developing a sense of team amongst your employees. For example, have your employees work together to build the tallest tower utilizing only office materials. This exercise would help illustrate the art of collaboration and communication. Managers can also go the physical route by dividing their employees into teams and instructing them to build a miniature bridge or catapult. I know what some of you are thinking, team building exercises are so corny and cheesy! But trust me, once your employees feel a since of value as a team, it will infuse a spark in both employee motivation and engagement.

Tip #4- Develop an Incentive program

There is actually a difference between recognition programs and an incentive program. Recognition, which is the concept I referred to in tip #1, is the appreciation or acknowledgment of an employees desired behavior. But on the other hand, an incentive program is designed to reward that specific behavior to achieve desired results.

Developing an incentive program is no easy task, and it is imperative to select the right incentive program for your employees, and of course, your budget. There are tons of different incentive programs available, so unless you are an extremely creative individual, you may want to seek the advice of a business consulting firm or incentive expert. Research suggests that companies with rewards and recognition programs out perform their competitors every time. So it is safe to assume that both employee motivation and employee engagement are directly linked to correctly matched incentive programs.

Tip #5- Recognize how your employees like to be acknowledged, then do it!

A key component to employee engagement is knowing who your employees are. Find out what motivates them and feed into it. Also take the time to learn and organize their birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. So many managers implement recognition and incentive programs without even knowing what motivates their staff. Then they wonder why it isn’t working! Implementing any program without knowing what your employees actually like will eventually lead to a huge waste of time and money.

These are just a few suggestions to get your employees gearing in the right direction. There are several other strategies that can help the cause, but these five tips will get you started. The truth is that it is rare to find the employee that will simply work to their full potential because their paycheck dictates that they must do so. Employers and managers must now provide the extra push to help their employees reach their full potential. It won’t occur over night, but with a little brain work and elbow grease, your employees will be the motivated and engaged individuals you need to meet your bottom line.

Give more than an incentive- Give an Experience!
On a tight budget? Looking for a unique incentive gift? Premier Gift Solutions offers gift collections that allows the recipient to select a gift of their own preference from brand name items such as appliances, jewelry, housewares, and much more! This easy to use program is different from traditional gift cards in that they don’t display a price, so your recipients won’t know how much you spent! Every gift will be personalized to the recipient, as well as presented in a quality presentation envelope, specific to your companies needs -AT NO ADDITIONAL COST! All of your gift recipients are sure to find something that they will love!

Get your Free Gift Consultation Now! Karisa Cloutier at 754-200-1064 or toll-free at 877-754-1630 for a budget specific gift consultation for your business.

Learn More about Giving a Gift Experience!

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Posted in Appreciation, Dealing with People, Employee Incentives, Employee Motivation

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