I don’t know about you, but lately the world has been on my shoulders. There is just too much to do and the world doesn’t stop. “Take a Rest,” I said to myself. We all need to take time out of our day, even for 15 minutes, to just rest. Don’t work through your lunch! In the agency world, I’m hearing such things as:
- We’re remarketing everything.
- We’re trying to stay on top of not losing customers.
- We’re trying to contact renewals way in advance just to make sure they stay with us.
- We’re pounding the pavement.
- We’re developing our marketing plan, we’re making employees accountable.
- We’re setting yearly account review appointments.
- We’re doing account rounding.
The list seems to go on forever.
Remember to take time out just for you – and check the “temperature” of your staff to make sure everything is okay in their world. Life is so short that we need to keep a positive attitude. Sometimes this is hard, but it’s essential.
Several years back I asked agents at a workshop what they were doing to keep their employees happy. Here (in no particular order) are a few of the ideas they offered:
- Let your people know they’re doing a good job. Thank them!
- We have a massage therapist give 15-minute massages, about twice a year.
- We have flexible hours.
- Fifteen minute massages during stressful times (360 conversion, end of the year).
- Flexibility in hours/days off (flex-time, four-day work week, off early to get kids off bus, etc.).
- Buy ice cream or some special treat for all employees once a month.
- Vacation time.
- Luncheon, surprise treats (Dairy Queen), drawings for prizes.
- Allow CSRs to work a day or two per week from home
- Celebrate – Spring, Fall, Summer, Winter, special lunches, time off.
- Hand out the book, Who Moved My Cheese? to help deal with changes.
- Reward with Casual Dress-down Stickers.
- Offer Early Fridays, casual day on Friday.
- Recognize their accomplishments with prizes and awards.
- Money does not always motivate.
- Keep it friendly, not a war zone.
- Get them to come to work the next day.
- Recognize their accomplishments.
- Be flexible and allow time off for certain personal needs, medical visits, family day at school, etc.
- Advocate additional time off for fitness/exercise time beyond normal break times.
- Extend summer hours to all year.
- Allow CSRs to take ½ days off on Friday afternoons in summer (although time must be made up).
- Owner is very flexible with hours.
- Bought a “magic bullet” – every day, around 2:45, they mix their favorite fruit drink.
- Monthly stress relief session at waterhole of their choice.
- Flex hours.
- One day a week, we get off at 2:30.
- Lunch paid for by agency.
- Beer in frig for after work.
- Dual monitors.
- Listen to feedback.
- Reward outstanding performance.
- Monthly birthday celebration (with gifts, of course).
- Cinco de Mayo fiesta.
Although a few of these ideas might seem dated, they offer a good starting point to help you help your staff.