Motivating Employees: 3 Unusual Things GREAT Bosses Do

Where employees are concerned, great leaders don't take. Great leaders give--especially these three things:

They give unexpected attention.
Everyone loves attention. Unfortunately you don't have unlimited time to devote to each employee.
So make the most of the time you do have. Don't just comment on the big stuff, the stuff you're supposed to focus on.
Notice a small detail. Praise a particular phrase she used to smooth the transition from customer conflict to problem resolution. Praise how he swung by another employee's desk to grab paperwork he could deliver on his way to another office. Pick something small, something positive, something helpful--something unexpected--to show you really pay attention.
Pick out details and employees know you're watching--in a good way--and not only will they work harder, more importantly they will feel better about themselves.
They give employees a break.
He messed up. Badly. Not only are you a little pissed, this is a teachable moment. You feel compelled to talk about it, possibly at length.
Don't. For a good employee, the lesson is already learned. Catch his eye, nod, let it go, and help him fix the problem.
Once in a while employees can all use a break. When they get one they never forget it. And they try really hard to show they deserved that break--and to make sure they never need another one.

They give an undeserved compliment.
Compliments don't always have to be earned. Sometimes a compliment can be like a self-fulfilling prophecy
.
When you see something in employees that they don't see--at least not yet--they often try hard to fulfill the belief you have in them.
That happened to me. I went out for debating in ninth grade and was nervous, scared, intimidated--pick any fearful adjective. It fit. A week or so into practices I heard the teacher talking to one of the seniors. "That kid there," he said, referring to me, "will be a champion by the time she's a senior."
He was wrong. It turned out I wasn't. But I immediately felt more confident, more self-assured, and incredibly motivated. Those feelings lasted for a long time.
He believed in me.
And I started to believe in myself.

Core Values in Hockey

It’s important for kids to be part of a team and know how to work with others and to achieve a common goal. In the workplace you often have to work with a team and you can take all of the values you learn in your team sports and bring them into team situations in the workplace and in life.

Students who are involved in activities outside of school like hockey are generally happier and more responsible.  Hockey can give children the opportunity to learn core values outside of the classroom that can be applied to all aspects of life.

It's equally important to reinforce these values and team building activities with rewards. Aran Awards & Engraving has over 100 amazing Hockey cups, medallions and trophies.

Aran Awards is Proud to Support Novice Hockey

In every arena where there’s a rink, you will hear the swishing sounds of skates tearing up and down the ice. You can hear the sound of a whistle echoing throughout the rink. You will see parents sitting on the edge of cold, unforgiving seats as they watch their child performs drills for their coach. The child has worked hard for months, on and off the ice. They have expended all their energy in hopes of making to the next level of competition.

Aran Awards & Engraving is proud to support Minor Hockey here in Hamilton.

Working at Happiness

A happy employee is a more productive employee.  But how to make them happy is the challenge. Many take the goal too personally and try to build staff contentment through personal relationships.

Professional growth People want to stretch, to develop their natural talents, feel their life has a narrative and is going somewhere. When they feel that they are growing, they may be exhausted but they're also inspired, energetic, and willing to take on a great deal. Anyone who reports to you (and anyone who reports to them) should have a professional development plan. That will keep everybody engaged, busy, and--eventually--happy.

Strong community Everybody wants to be proud of where they work, to feel that they are investing the most precious thing they have--time--in something that matters.Superficial social-responsibility projects won't fill this gap for you. You need to create direct links between the success of the business and the community you serve. These need to involve the entire work force and should be active, public, visible, and long lasting. Many companies get their staff to choose the causes or charities they support. The more they're engaged in these commitments, the more meaningful they will be to them--and your company community.

Fair treatment "Everybody here is somebody." The owner or manager knows everyone's name--even the names of everyone's kids and pets. This kind of fair--and kind--treatment also means startlingly low turnover rates, which also saves money. But it's not really about the money.

The very best companies honor these principles and enact them lavishly. They don't pay lip service, and they don't do the bare minimum; they go overboard. They do so because they know the secret of leadership: Look after the people, and the people look after the business.

Check out Aranawards.com for more great rewards for you & your team.

Excellence

What is it that truly separates the average athlete from the good or the good athlete from the great? If you answered that question with the word “talent,” That is only a small part of the equation.

Muhammad Ali once said, “Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” Yes, skill (or development thereof) does have some basis in talent; however, the real message in that quote goes way beyond sheer talent, and even the skills of a sport (which can be learned and improved on). The key is in that last sentence, “the will must be stronger than the skill.” The power in that quote is exemplified in those last eight words.

Self-reflection like this is a key to discovering enjoyment and happiness through your sports experiences, as well as in life.

It is where your heart and passion lie. It is what drives you, makes you stronger, especially when things become most difficult (and/or you are at your weakest). Once you have decided on your path, it is this factor, above all others, that ultimately determines your level of success.

Aran Awards and Engraving specialize in sports awards!

The Gold Star

Sometimes people are screaming for recognition without anyone noticing. You’d be surprised what kind of difference recognition will make, if only you could recognize the signs that people crave it.
There is always room for employee reward and recognition activities that generally build positive morale in the work environment. The Pall Corporation, in Ann Arbor, MI, has had a "smile team" that meets to schedule random, fun employee recognition events. They have decorated shop windows, with a prize to the best, for a holiday.

They sponsor ice cream socials, picnics, the "boss" cooks day, and so on, to create a rewarding environment at work. Another company holds an annual costume wearing and judging along with a lunch potluck every Halloween.
Special occasions, National Holidays and birthdays aren’t the only times people deserve a pick-me-up. Anniversaries are a great time to give someone the recognition they’ve always deserved. Try to remember to give employees the recognition they deserve every time the anniversary of their start with the company rolls around.

If you attach recognition to "real" accomplishments and goal achievement as negotiated in a performance development planning meeting, you need to make sure the recognition meets the above stated requirements. Supervisors must also apply the criteria consistently, so some organizational oversight may be necessary.
The challenge of individually negotiated goals is to make certain their accomplishment is viewed as similarly difficult by the organization for the process to be a success.

It’s usually not hard to tell when someone is having a rough week. I call it the slump because usually said individual slumps down into their chair and wears the same stone cold, glossed over look on their face. If you ever spot the slump, it’s time give that person some positive energy!
People also like recognition that is random and that provides an element of surprise. Monday is always a hard day. No one likes coming down from the dream land that is the weekend. It’s the perfect day to praise someone and give them that extra pep in their Monday step.

Find out more tips, rewards and awards at aranawards.com & on our facebook page.

Olympic Fever

The 2012 summer Olympics begin in less than 1 day. The race for the gold, silver and bronze began months and even years ago for many of these athletes. Olympians throughout the years have inspired patriotism and achievement in more than just sports. Whether they compete in Judo, swimming or gymnastics, these top performers from around the world deserve to be rewarded. The olive wreath was the prize for the winner at the Ancient Olympic Games. It was an olive branch, of the wild-olive tree that grew at Olympia, intertwined to form a circle or a horse-shoe. From 241 participants representing 14 nations in 1896, the Games have grown to about 10,500 competitors from 204 countries at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

How can you translate these inspirational achievements into a reward system for your business?

Games and Rewards are an amazing way to creatively team build and network for both adults and children.

Indoor Games:

• Paper plane folding and throwing
• Hoopla
• Obstacle course
• Discus (using paper plates)
• Beanbag Toss
• Hallway Dash

Of course no Olympic Games can be complete without awarding medals and a closing ceremony. If possible, find some boxes so that medal winners can stand high to get their applause! Plan to give everyone a medal for something.

Building Confidence in Girls

Building self-confidence in girls can be a challenging but rewarding task. In today's society, there is so much in the media that takes away from a girl's self-esteem. Perfect looking models on every magazine cover and almost every Internet pop-up can cause a young girl to compare herself to them unfavorably. Building self-confidence will help girls do better in school and will also prepare them for success as an adult. It can also lessen the chance of eating disorders and help girls develop healthy relationships with others.

Why are sports for girls so important?

Though exercise and good health are often sited as the main goal for involving girls in sports the most important effect of girls in sports is CONFIDENCE.

Girl athletes have one of the lowest rates of tobacco use among any sector of the high-school population; they are less likely to abuse drugs; they are less likely to get pregnant, more likely to delay their first sexual experience, and have, on average, fewer sexual partners than girls who do not participate in sports. In addition, girls derive benefits from athletics that are difficult to measure objectively, such as confidence and self-esteem; they score higher on tests designed to gauge positive body image.

It largely doesn't matter what sport girls become involved in, from karate to football, hockey or cycling, as long as we recognize the value of building confidence in girls and reward them. Self-confidence and recognition of participation and achievements goes a long way to achieving a positive self image.

As Agnus Berenato, head women’s basketball coach at the University of Pittsburgh says, “The most important lesson playing sports can teach a young girl is this: Whatever happens to you on the court, or on the field, or in the pool; the same thing will happen to you in real life. You think the coach is not fair; you’re going to think your parents are not fair. You think the ref made a bad call; you’ll think your teacher made a mistake. But, through sports, you can learn life-long coping skills. You persevere – you get knocked down – but you get back on your feet and strive to achieve.”
Aran Awards & Engraving is happy to support girls sports in Hamilton, Burlington and Stoney Creek. Check out all the amazing ways you can reward and inspire your athletes at aranawards.com

Why Reward or Recognize?

”We will receive not what we idly wish for but what we justly earn. Our rewards will always be in exact proportion to our service.” --Earl Nightingale

 Recognition is not just a nice thing to do for people. Recognition is a communication tool that reinforces and rewards the most important outcomes people create for your business, whether you are a sports team, club or corporation. When you recognize people effectively, you reinforce, with your chosen means of recognition, the actions and behaviors you most want to see people repeat.

Managers ask, “Why should I recognize or thank him? He’s just doing his job.”  Times have changed dramatically. Employees and valuable team members can no longer be treated like machines. They come at a high price and can cost as much to replace. Workers expect to be valued as human beings. Today, the rewarding of employees is done as a partnership between the business and its employees

There are as many different rewards as there are people. These are a few examples of special ways to express thank you:

• Performance Awards - great for teams, sports, or corporations on completion of a task or work project - a small plaque or simple desk award with your business name as well as the employee's name to reinforce their contribution and their value to you
• Special Act or Service Award - an outstanding volunteer position, someone or group that went over and above with customer service, special attention or community service on behalf of your business - something as simple as a water bottle with your business name on it or a custom engraved crystal paperweight
• Length of Service Recognition - an employee, volunteer or member of your team that has been with your business an exception amount of time - the perfect gift for this would be a custom engraved clock

Not every goal or performance  requires an award - but every person effectively working towards that goal and their performance requires recognition.
Here are some low cost suggestions:

1. Take time to personally thank employees for doing a good job. Do it regularly, specifically and sincerely.
2. Vary your approach when thanking employees. Some efforts merit formal letters of recognition with a copy to the employee’s file. For others, a timely and specific e-mail message can be effective. A few sincere words of thanks delivered in person is almost always appreciated.
3. Low-key recognition activities can be very effective. Take a few minutes during a staff meeting to recognize a successful project and present the participants with an appropriate token such as a certificate, a "congratulations" cake, or their favorite candy bar.
4. When someone has been successful, offer them a chance to teach others what they did. This will allow the unit to learn from the successful experience, and will acknowledge the person’s unique contribution to the work.
5. Create a traveling trophy to be passed among team members whenever someone successfully completes a difficult task.

Remember to check out all the great ideas for rewarding your employees, volunteers, team members and teammates at aranawards.com