Christmas Morale

Flowers and Profits®

Keeping spirits up during the holidays for your customers might be easier than for your employees. After all, it's a lot of hard work creating a Winter Wonderland in your shop. During this time of the year, tensions and stress are higher than usual.

As the busy season is getting started, make it a point once a week to gather everyone for a quick meeting, or add this step to an existing meeting.

Ask everybody to list two things that boost their morale and two things that bring it down. Listen and write down the comments but don't debate — you want to encourage a free flow of information.

Once you've compiled the list, make a commitment to find ways to increase the positive and get rid of the negative.

Often it will be small but powerful things that really make a difference. For example, you might find that arriving at a dirty shop in the morning, which requires the first 10 to 15 minutes to be spent cleaning, is a negative. Bringing in an outside crew during the holiday times to clean the shop at night might be an inexpensive way to boost morale.

On the positive side, look for ways to increase activities that motivate. For example, you might find that interaction with you is a morale booster. In this case, be sure to spend time with each employee every day, complimenting something they've done or showing your appreciation.

One great way to start a restful weekend is by feeling good about yourself. You can help employees do this by having a "Right Way" meeting just before the end of the day on Friday or Saturday. If the time is too busy, hold the meeting first thing Monday.

During this quick session, ask each employee to describe one thing that went right that week. The meeting doesn't have to be formal or long.

This process not only helps employees go home for the weekend with positive feelings, it also teaches other employees how to do things exceptionally well. Try it. Starting the meeting can be your first "Right Way" item to report.