Most of my past work has been helping organizations improve customer service and raise employee engagement and morale in their workplaces. However, with the pandemic and almost everyone working from home, many of the the ideas I have shared in the past are no longer applicable. Recently, one of my assistants who is working remotely asked if I would share some ideas of things she and other workers could do FROM HOME to help keep a positive spirit alive in their organizations. As a result, I put together a list of new ideas that I hope may help you as you each adapt to new working conditions.
My office all ready for Zoom presentations!
AT HOME IDEAS TO REGENERATE SPIRIT:
- Enclose a surprise in your mailings – a stick of gum, a “calming” teabag, a sticker, or a quotation, or if it is a package, a bag of M&Ms or package of Lifesavers, with a note, “I appreciate you!”
- Spice up your memos and emails. Add a fun fact at the end like “Cows give more milk when they listen to music,” or “The Mona Lisa has no eyelids,” or “Beethoven was 5’ 2” tall,” or “It’s illegal to have a pet pig in Iceland.” People will have fun reading them.
- Use photos in your emails. Include a photo of your family, your team, a favorite place you love, or even your pet at the end. It is a lovely way to build a personal relationship with your co-workers and clients.
- Jazz up your Zoom meetings if you regularly “meet” as a team. Do fun things at either the beginning or the end of each zoom meeting such as have everyone wear a goofy hat or wear their Pjs, or dress up like they were going to a gala or share their favorite mask or post a baby picture of themselves and everyone guesses who is whom …..or on a more serious note, share a book they are reading, a podcast that inspired them, or a song that they love.
- Call someone in your organization just to say, “I appreciate and miss you.”
- Surprise a co-worker with a poem or a note of appreciation for the work they have done or how they have helped or inspired you. That way they can read it over and over when they are having a tough day.
- Do something special for the FAMILY of a co-worker who has gone out of his/her way for you – a gift certificate to an ice cream store, a restaurant, or a movie for the whole family.
- Mark Twain said, “I can go two months on one good compliment.” Send a compliment to someone on your team or in your organization every day and encourage them.
- As Ken Blanchard said in “The One Minute Manager,” “Make a habit of catching people doing something right.” Even though you are not with them physically, you can still appreciate what they have done right. You don’t have to be a manager to thank someone for a joy well-done!
- Jim Munroe from South Carolina sends email poems to appreciate his co-workers at Santee Cooper public power company. Here are some examples:
You stock the shelves and that’s not all
Shipping, receiving and telephone calls.
Forms for this and forms for that.
You even take care of old stray cats!
So jump on that forklift and drive away.
Eat something tasty and have a great day!
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You deal with the payroll all the day long.
And hear all the complaints if something is wrong.
In this day and time we need to daily give thanks
For at least we have something to put in our banks.
It must be fun handling all that dough.
Every two weeks you’re Santa and our faces glow.
Thanks for a great job – we know you won’t fail.
I love when you tell me, “Your check’s in the mail!”
- Mary Kay Ash, CEO of Mary Kay Cosmetics, said, “There are two things people want more than sex or money – recognition and praise.” No matter WHERE you are working, you can give these gifts to your co-workers!
- Take a 5 minute vacation. This can be done physically by going outside and walking around the block or to another part of your home, or it can be a mental vacation. Close your eyes and vision a very special place that you have been or would like to go. Then do something you would like there. The best part is that it won’t cost you a penny! You will be amazed at how refreshed you can feel in 5 minutes.
- Create an AIG (“Ain’t I Great”) folder for yourself. Fill it with cards, letters, emails, photos, awards – anything that celebrates you and brings you joy. Then when you are having a tough day, you can take it out and remember all the people who care about you.
- Charles Swindoll, the author of “Strengthening your Grip,” said, “When we encourage others, we spur them on, we stimulate an affirm them. We appreciate what a person does, but we affirm who a person is.” Be an ENCOURAGER every day!
- Send flowers anonymously to someone in your organization who has accomplished a difficult task or needs a lift. (You might even send them to YOURSELF when you have met a goal! 😉 There are also many online greeting card sites that you can immediately use to celebrate and encourage someone.
Please email me at bglanz@barbaraglanz.com with your ideas. For more information on my work, go to http://www.barbaraglanz.com.
