We Are Not An Island: Say Thank You

I often think of November as one of those in-between months – especially in the finance department. The budget is complete but it’s a little early to start the year end work. Yes, I could be working on the projects we’ve decided to implement in the coming year, but in November I like to reflect back on the year and what has been accomplished.

There were a dozen projects that got implemented, an audit that was successful, assisting new managers in how to handle their duties and a couple dozen other things that got completed.

When I think back on those projects, they never would have been successful without someone else’s help. I may be the captain of the ship, but without a crew we would never reach our destination.

No one can do it alone. We are not an island.

How often do we say “Thank You” to our employees and co-workers? And is it meaningful, i.e. not an off-hand “thanks for passing the salt” thank you.

Taking a few minutes each day to thank our staff is not just the right thing to do, it’s good for business.

In a Harris Interactive/Glassdoor survey, over 50% of the respondents said they would stay longer with their employer if they felt more appreciation from their boss. Four out of five indicate they work harder when their boss shows appreciation for their work.

What’s the best way to do that? There are several methods.

Make it personal. We all react to different stimuli. Take the time to find out what works for each of your staff. For one it may be flexible scheduling to attend children’s sports events. For another, it may be lunch with you that they can discuss career goals. For others, it may be a gift card.

At one company, I used to give out hand written notes recognizing the achievement of employees for each week. One employee kept them on their cubicle wall; they enjoyed watching them accumulate.

Make it sincere. Tell them you care. I know it sounds easy, but a genuine question regarding their lives or the project they are working on means more than you realize.   Look them in the eye and LISTEN.

Dale Carnegie said “Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely.”

Help to reduce stress. Powering through the workweek is hard, but you can help reduce the stress by offering some fun activities. Perhaps each Friday between Thanksgiving and Christmas you offer specialty coffees, tea and cocoa.

One organization I was with did Bingo on Fridays. We’d have callers at strategic spots in the building, calling out the numbers. Winners got premium parking for the following week.

These are just a few ways of saying “Thank You”. There are a thousand more. Only you can decide what works best with your personality and your staff. Remember – keep it sincere.

With the holidays around the corner, take the time to let everyone know you appreciate them. We are only as good as those who support us. After all, we are not an island.