| Even in today's still uncertain economic times, there are | | | | foundation of their success? A successful foundation |
| companies who are doing extraordinarily well. Why is it | | | | lies within their employees. Do they enjoy working for |
| that some companies are thriving while others are | | | | the organization? How good do they feel about their |
| barely making it? You can always blame the economy, | | | | role within the company? What do they say and do on |
| but is that the only reason? The answer could be as | | | | the job (both during and after business hours)? Most |
| simple as how respected and appreciated your staff | | | | importantly, do they feel respected and appreciated?A |
| feels.Recently I visited a store to buy pet supplies. I | | | | committed staff can literally turn a floundering |
| was given a pleasant greeting, assisted with my | | | | company around. At a minimum they can help to keep |
| purchase and made to feel like a valued customer. It | | | | it afloat. When people feel appreciated, they are more |
| was a good experience until I paid for my purchase. | | | | likely to be loyal, creative, and trustworthy. They are |
| The clerk began badmouthing the fact that her boss, | | | | willing do what it takes to keep customers happy. |
| the owner, took the afternoon off. The clerk seemed | | | | They are less likely to undermine the success of the |
| to feel obligated to tell me how much better she could | | | | organization or merely be in a state of complacency |
| run the business if she had the authority. I simply smiled, | | | | while at work. Satisfied and loyal employees make |
| secretly wishing for the experience to be over as | | | | excellent public relations representatives who truly |
| quickly as possible.I considered this to be an isolated | | | | have the desire to make your customers happy.There |
| case and dismissed it. The clerk was just having a bad | | | | are many owners and managers who still maintain the |
| day. I went in on another occasion and had a similar | | | | outdated belief that an employee should just be happy |
| experience with another clerk. However, this time the | | | | to have a job. They seem to think any investment in |
| other clerk didn't seem to care if I bought anything or | | | | their people is a waste of time and money. Have they |
| not. All she wanted to do was put down the owner.I | | | | ever thought that this could be the reason for such |
| haven't been back since the second experience, nor | | | | low productivity and morale and poor customer |
| do I feel comfortable referring anyone to the store. | | | | service?Smart managers and owners are taking a |
| Based on my experiences, I have to assume that | | | | much more progressive and holistic approach to how |
| these employees do not feel valued by their boss. If | | | | they run their businesses. One such approach is setting |
| they did, I hardly think they would talk so poorly behind | | | | up programs to express appreciation and respect for |
| the owner's back. I assume these employees work | | | | their staff. A good incentive program for your |
| just enough to justify their paycheck. I can also | | | | employees not only makes excellent business sense, it |
| assume they won't do anything to generate new | | | | is also a very powerful marketing strategy.Key to the |
| business. What a pity. And what a missed opportunity | | | | success of any incentive program is sincerity. If you |
| for everyone.In today's competitive business | | | | implement a program only to see how much you can |
| environment, companies can foolishly waste | | | | get out of people, chances of failure are high. |
| phenomenal amounts of money on what they assume | | | | Additionally, the actions of the management team |
| are effective marketing strategies in order to gain | | | | have to match the philosophy of the program you |
| more customers. Yet if their marketing strategy does | | | | implement in order to succeed.The greatest key to |
| not include employee satisfaction, these new | | | | success with an incentive program is to commit to a |
| customers may have a less than pleasant experience | | | | high level of respect for your team. Remember |
| and will be less likely to return.How many companies | | | | always that without your staff you not likely to |
| spend a fortune on marketing in order to gain a larger | | | | succeed. |
| customer base yet miss the key ingredient to the | | | | |