subject: Holiday Cards: Building Morale, One Card At A Time [print this page] Instead of giving ubiquitous holiday cards that inspire your employees -- and clients alike -- to sigh and toss your half-baked, boilerplate sentiment into the trash, give something more. Give something they'll actually cherish. Yes, cherish. Granted, you've grown your company and you've done your darnedest to keep your bottom line intact, but what have you done to make your employees feel special? A simple good morning or limp platitude isn't going to cut.
A company, like it or not, is a surrogate family. Employees respond like family members. They respond to personal recognition and will always appreciate a figurative pat on the back. Why not do a little more than send some insipid card? I'm not saying cut them all bonus checks -- no, but a customized holiday card can go a long way towards making them feel personally invested in the company. And, keep in mind, a personally invested employee is a more loyal and hard-working employee.
It's a cliche for a reason. The holidays are always stressful times -- not just for you, but for everyone. Running around, buying gifts, managing budgets, dealing with extended family -- it can be more than most people can bear. For many people, work serves as a kind of refuge during the holiday season. It can help ground them and put the season in perspective. Yes, you might throw them a holiday party, but if you could give them a relatively personalized card, you'd be surprised by how much gratitude you could engender.
Now, if your employees aren't enough of an incentive, then think about your clients. A well-chosen set of holiday cards could become a cleverly leveraged direct mail marketing campaign. What if, instead of ending up in the shredder, your holiday card was pinned to the bulletin board or stashed in a Rolodex? You have to think of the broader picture -- you have to think about your clients as people, just like you employees, who respond to thoughtful, customized holiday cards.
Failing to give the best, will mean failing to get the best. Clients and employee alike respond to well-crafted, quality items. They will see that you took the time and effort -- and expensive to some degree -- to give them something that conveyed your deepest wish for a happy and safe holiday season. The genuine warmth of your message is best conveyed through a customized card that doesn't scream cookie cutter or corporate boiler plate drivel.
by: Myer Thompson
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
