…is the question we all ponder this time of year.
Business owners give the same gifts, bonuses, or turkeys –yes, turkeys–every year. But is that what our employees really want?
Consider the incremental happiness you feel when you received the item you’ve pined for—a special toy, tool, luxury good or new car. According to behavioral economics, it feels as valuable as that new car you just drove off the lot—about 10% less and dropping every day!
But imagine you could give every employee in your company the BEST gift ever? Would you do it? Of course you would!
Behavioral economics research has shown that buying experiences is far more impactful and valuable than buying things.1
So what if you could give yourself—and your employees— the experience of celebrations? They don’t have to be expensive or difficult to pull off. But suppose each celebration were tied to a KPI, a Key Performance Indicator? That would transform the abstract purpose you want your employees to buy into with a fun experience when they do it. Then you could create a great culture to attract and retain employees or great customer experiences that would transform your clients into Raving Fans who throw new clients your way.
Better yet imagine how much more fun
it would be to be at work and to lead your people!
Better yet imagine how much more fun it would be to be at work and to lead your people!
So what’s the best gift you can give yourself, your employees, and your company? It’s setting aside time to catch people doing what’s right—to make time to be spontaneous, to play, to celebrate. If this sounds inefficient or counterproductive, consider what celebration gave one business leader:
- More Energy
[“Celebration”] brought a whole different energy to the way [our soccer] team showed up—both for practice and for the games. And despite our team “on paper” not being as skilled, we went on to win the National Championship two years in a row.2
- More Clarity
When the coaches were constantly critical, our heads were full of what not to do. But then we also had to think about what we needed to do to play better. So we had to think about things twice. First “avoid this.” Second, “do that.” And if there were multiple mistakes, you can imagine how mentally draining this would be. When you celebrate positive results, you immediately simplify things. It becomes “do more of this.” Period. Simple, right? 3
we need to celebrate what we want to see more of
because celebration is a reminder of the things
your team is doing well
- Momentum
Unlike sports, there’s no win/loss column in business. That’s why as leaders, we need to celebrate what we want to see more of because celebration is a reminder of the things your team is doing well. Don’t assume they know. Make it clear for them. The more they experience “winning,” the more confidence and belief they’ll have. 4
1 The Atlantic – Buy Experiences Not Things
2, 3, 4 Michael Hyatt – Celebration Fuels Achievement
Call American Business Advisors at 303-871-9550
or write to info@aba.epicdevsite.info if you’d like FREE
help creating moments of celebrating this Holiday Season
TOOLKIT:
Those who celebrate Advent/Christmas and Hannukah have ways they celebrate the KPIs of their faith—the Birth of the Messiah and the Miracle of the Light, respectively. Here are some questions to help you create your own company’s celebrations around your KPI:
- What is your one top KPI/Key Performance Indicator?
- What will you and your managers do to “catch people doing what’s right”?
- When, where and how will you celebrate these actions as a company?
- Call ABA at 303-871-9550 or write to info@aba.epicdevsite.info if you’d like FREE help creating moments of celebrating this Holiday Season
