Build your business in a slow economy! Part 5

Part 5 focuses on boosting employee morale quickly & KEEP IT UP!

How's your morale? Are you getting the most out of yourself and your co-workers? Implement these quick and affordable tips today and watch morale increase instantly!

Morale Boosting Tips:
1. Celebrate! Reward! Recognize! Everyone wants to be appreciated. Catch your employees doing something right. Did they go the extra mile? Did they handle a difficult situation well? Did they make one of your customers feel special? As soon as it happens recognize it, celebrate it and reward it. Don't wait, acknowledge it in front of co-workers and it will be infectious. If you reward the act with an item that can be displayed everyone will get on board and it will become a competition. Everyone will want to "be caught" doing something right so they get the most awards. Go a step further and at the end of 6 months tally the number of awards that each person received and the employee with the most awards receives a grand prize.

2. Positive Motivation! Nothing is more contagious than the energy of a happy and upbeat person. Stay positive and those around you will become positive too. Motivate your employees to give their best. They are apart of your company and they do affect everyone's attitude around them. Your employees and customers want to work with energetic and positive people. Have a contest. Every month the office nominates a person to receive the "Happy Award" that they proudly display on their desk. On the last day of the month have an office lunch and present the award.

3. Honest Communication! Employees are worried about their jobs, their bills, their families. If they come to work everyday wondering "Will I be laid off today?" you won't get the most out of them. They are too stressed and distracted to give your company and your clients 110%. Tell your employees the truth and you will gain their respect and ease their minds. I believe everyone will agree that the unknown is the hardest to deal with. Don't let their minds make up situations that they will need to deal with. Lay the real picture out for them and get them on board with your vision and how you will continue to be successful during this new economy.

4. Exciting Workplace! Can you give your top performers a larger workplace? Can you expand their cubicles? Can you swap out their boring furniture for something nicer? If you've done layoffs you can probably say "YES!" to atleast one of these questions. You may already have the furniture at your office. Or you can save money and purchase used furniture. It will show your employees that you appreciate them and will get them excited to come to work.

5. Empower and Reward! Now is not the time to micro-manage your employees. It justs brings morale down. Instead tell them that you respect them and know they have the skills and critical thinking necessary to do the job. When they achieve the result you want, REWARD IT! Give them a gift certificate, paid time off, a cash bonus, etc. It doesn't have to be a large monetary value, just something that, that person will appreciate and use.

You lead by example. If you are passionate about your job, your employees will be too. If you are optimistic about your company's future so will your employees. Take the time to take care of your employees and they will take care of you. Try it and it will work.

Promotions that get results!
Shana Anderson
Complete Workplace, Inc.
Milpitas, Ca

Build your business in a slow economy! Part 1

Don't get down about the economy. Instead hold your head high and work smarter on your business. Businesses can thrive during an economic slow-down. Companies around you are going out of business. Now is the time to make your company stand out. Where should you start?

The first place is customer service. Make your customer's experience happy, easy and memorable. Make them smile. Show them that they are important to you no matter how much or how little they spend with you.

When you pick up the phone give them your full attention and greet them as if they were standing in front of you.

Go the extra mile. Give them updates during your processes. Your communication is key. If you deliver products. Let them know you received their order and when you anticipate it to ship. Once it ships send them the tracking number/estimated delivery date. If there are any problems with the order tell them upfront so there are no surprises.

After the item is received contact them to make sure everything was received and that they are happy with it.

Do the same type of service if you are selling an intangible item. Let them know you received their order and when the work will be done. Contact them the day before to remind them. After the service is performed contact them to insure they are satisfied.

If for any reason they aren't satisfied fix it immediately. The last thing you want to do is have it sit in front of them for them to dwell on.

If you are truly committed to GREAT customer service your business will grow. Ask your clients to fill out surveys about your company. See where you need to improve. Reward your employees for what they are doing well. Everyone wants to be recognized for what they do. A few kind words, a thank you gift, etc. go a long way in keeping employee morale up.

Ask your customers for referrals. If you are doing your part then they will reward you with referrals. The majority of my business is from referrals. My clients know that whomever they refer to me will be well taken care of. I treat my clients the way I want to be treated and I suggest you do the same.

Stay tuned for more tips to help you grow your business!

Promotions that get results!
Shana Anderson
Complete Workplace, Inc.
Milpitas, Ca