The holidays are here, and we can just throw out the normal playbook for holiday celebrations and appreciations.  It is even more important during this challenging year to show your team how much you appreciate their work.

Demonstrating appreciation for your team can come in many forms but it should reflect your company’s values and the contribution your employees make to the success of the company.  Time is short so here are three of our favorite ideas for this year’s thank yous.

Write Personal Emails

It is essential to say “thanks” and “good job” to your employees regularly but expressing your appreciation in writing will take it to another level.  The holidays are a great time to write personal emails thanking them for their hard work.  (Or even better, a handwritten note is personal and very effective.)

For emails, a simple way to accomplish this task is to create a template you can customize. A template provides a structure that will save you time when writing but gives you room to personalize it.  For example, you can create a template that includes:

●     One project in which we had success

●     One way they surprised and delighted you

●     One way they contributed value to the company

●     One personal thing you appreciate about them (empathy, sense of humor, etc.)

For handwritten thank yous, use corporate stationery if possible.  If this isn’t easily available, be intentional in the stationery or notecard you use.  Be sure it reflects that you put thought into it and that it is reasonably consistent with the employee’s frame of mind.  For example, if the employee recently lost a loved one to Covid, perhaps not such happy stationery.  It takes extra time to choose the right note card or stationery but it will be noticed and appreciated.

Give Them Flexibility Around the Holidays

The holidays are a difficult time of the year to focus on work even in the best of circumstances.  During the holiday season, the average person runs the gamut of emotions, from excitement to stress to anxiety and sadness.  These feelings are surely amplified this year.

Although fewer people are likely to travel or attend major events this year, the pressure of coping with a very different holiday season could impact productivity even more than usual. The holidays are an especially difficult time for those who have recently lost family members or who have been isolated from their families for the duration of the pandemic.

Flexibility is one of the best gifts you can give your team this year.

Give them the space to start work a bit late or leave early on a few days, or take a day off as needed.  Let the team know in advance that this is your intent and put a plan in place to ensure that any critical work is covered.

Provide Thoughtful Gifts

Nothing says “I appreciate you” like a little something special.

If you have a small team, dedicate a few hours (or delegate an employee) to finding personalize gifts for each team member.  For example, if someone’s headphones are on the fritz, you might get them a new pair.  Or if a team member intends to climb Mount Kilimanjaro next year, you might get them a piece of hiking equipment.

Getting personal is not always possible with larger teams but try to choose gifts that are helpful and impactful.  You can get a sense of what might suit them by talking to managers and line leaders about the kind of things that might appeal to their team members.

We are a woman-owned business so we try to support other woman-owned businesses – here is a handy list with great gift ideas! 

Say Thanks This Holiday Season

The holidays are the perfect time to thank your team for everything they do. Remember that thanks can come in many shapes and sizes, but it is important that you say it in ways that mean something to your team.

Are you looking for more great ideas or even some new staff?  Get in touch to learn more about what Elite Personnel can do for your business.