Business moves so fast these days who has time for quaint courtesies? With bottom lines and profit margins more important than ever, it can be difficult to justify wasting time on simple pleasantries. And yet, we strongly believe they are more important than ever.
In continuation of our series about your brand being more than your logo, we’re going to take a close look at two words: thank you.
It’s only eight letters or a couple syllables smashed together, depending on how you look at it, but this simple turn of phrase has immense power. A genuine thank you can be the catalyst for forming strong relationships with both your customers and your employees.
When we say your brand is more than your logo, we mean it. At RWL Design we constantly stress this point because we’ve witnessed the truth of it time and again. Your brand is every interaction your customers have with your business. This includes any promotional material you send them, every time they visit your website, their use of your product or service, and their interaction with each of your employees.
For today’s purposes, we’re going to focus on saying thank you to your employees in particular. In large part, this is because it seems to be a step that’s so often overlooked it’s become a rarity.
Thank you isn’t just a simple, time wasting pleasantry. A genuine thank you is the spoken embodiment of putting others first.
It not only creates a place your employees want to work, it creates a place your customers want to be. And that, ladies and gents, is what breeds brand loyalty. That’s why creating a positive environment isn’t only good for the soul, it’s good for your bottom line. In our view, it’s the best 2-for-1 investment you could ever make.
How to Consistently Say Thank You
The simple action of saying thank you goes a long way toward making your employees feel appreciated. But, a few additional steps can also be incredibly helpful. Some of these include:
Schedule a Regular Checking In
The day-to-day problems you handle are most likely significantly different than those your team experiences. Schedule time to speak with your team members on an individual basis. This will allow you to understand the problems they face and how you can help.
Step Into the Trenches
Get hands on experience next to your employees. Yes, this isn’t always an option. Some tasks require skills you may not have. But when possible, stepping into the trenches with your employees gives you first hand knowledge of the job they do. And, it helps you cultivate a better relationship with them. Just as on a battlefield or an athletic team, nothing forms stronger bonds than working through a task together.
Set a Genuine Thank You Goal
Recognizing opportunities where you can genuinely thank your employees may not be second nature now. But it can be. By setting a clear thank you goal for yourself – a specific number of times a day, a week or a month that you’ll express gratitude to one of your employees – you’ll develop the habit of seeing and thanking those around you. However, keep in mind that saying thank you for the sake of reaching your goal defeats the purpose. Each thank you given should be sincere, for an action you truly value.
Have you witnessed the power of thank you? We’d love to hear about it. Send us a tweet or leave us a Facebook comment.
