When you go on vacation to the Caribbean or some other tropical island the first thing you’ll notice is probably the stunning scenery but immediately after that you’ll notice the distinct island culture. Islanders are well-known for their fun, friendly, laid-back attitudes! Maybe it’s the delightful climate or the stunning beauty that surrounds them on a daily basis, but whatever the cause, islanders are unmistakably different than mainlanders when it comes to their approach toward life.
So what would happen if you took the same island approach to your employee appreciation strategy?
So what would happen if you took the same island approach to your employee appreciation strategy?
Slowing Down
Island life is slow moving and when it comes to appreciating your employees slowing down may be just what the doctor ordered. Giving employees a break to recharge mentally and step away from their work will actually help them to be more effective employees. It also shows employees that you value them as people and want what’s best for them as well as what’s best for the company.
Fostering a Sense of Community
Islanders tend to accomplish things as a community rather than through individual contribution, which is something that we tend to struggle with as Americans. And yet, most companies these days embrace a team structure that relies on working together to meet deliverables and accomplish business goals. To kill two birds with one stone, you can show employees that you value their hard work and also foster a sense of community with teambuilding activities designed to bring people closer together. Team off-sites and other bonding events make great rewards.
Focusing on the Positive
On an island people are inherently positive, which is really an accomplishment because island life can be rough sometimes with the threat of natural disaster and water shortage. This positive attitude carries through everything that they do and is reflected in all aspects of their life from music to food to their work. Focusing on the positive works for appreciating employees as well. Reward employees for a job well-done and it will incentivize them to keep working hard and boost their morale. Employees will respond to this by carrying that positivity through their work as well.
Celebrating
Island celebrations are unmatched! Many islanders put their own spin on traditional holiday celebrations and also have their own fun seasonal celebrations to boot. Follow suit in your office – celebrate work anniversaries, employee birthdays, company-specific milestones, and just generally find times to have fun regularly. Fun keeps employees sane!
Kate Pierce is the owner of LionShark Digital Marketing LLC, a West Michigan internet marketing company. Her areas of expertise include Paid Search, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Web Consulting for small businesses, Copywriting and Local Online Marketing. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband and enjoys cooking, watching sports and spending time outdoors. Like a true digital marketing expert (i.e. geek), she loves talking about marketing theory and SEM trends… so don’t say you weren’t warned!
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