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Wednesday Appreciation: Recognize One Person Every Week
January 20, 2010
When planning recognition, some managers worry about offending an employee or leaving someone out. So they opt to “recognize everyone” as a group. These managers not only end up alienating the stars that make a difference, but reinforcing the behavior of their average and poor performers.
Instead of serving up mass praise to your work group, try this: Put together a chart of all your people and recognize one person in each weekly staff meeting until you have publicly recognized them all. Don’t just recognize for “overall greatness,” but for specific behaviors that are important to you and your organization.
When you start recognizing people, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is and how nobody feels left out. You’ll also find yourself recognizing faster (even on the spot) for the “right” behaviors. In most cases, you’ll also notice your employees recognizing each other and vying for more of your recognition.
Three: The Key to a Great Meeting
January 19, 2010
We all have meetings on a regular basis. And I am always amazed at how few meetings are really very effective. We get in the same room, about the same time each week and go through the agenda (if there is one). Before long, heads are bowed, BlackBerrys and iPhones come out and interest lags. It becomes pretty clear not much is going to get done.
So for effective meetings, I like the RULE of THREE.
Do You Have Invisible Employees on Your Team?
January 14, 2010
Adrian and I are excited to announce that we have updated and added tons more content to The Invisible Employee and released a second edition with John Wiley. It was released officially on December 30, but we’re having some great promotions today and tomorrow for anyone who buys the book. Here are all the details:
Buy the second edition of The Invisible Employee on Jan. 14 or 15, and we’ll immediately send you these valuable tools:
*World’s Greatest Managers Audio Lesson: Chester interviews some of the world’s most successful CEOs and business leaders. It’s like stealing the playbook of the masters!
*A Carrot A Week: Receive a free subscription to 52 practical suggestions on how to provide meaningful recognition—tips you can apply today.
*Global Carrots: Heading on a business trip? Managing employees from other lands? Learn how to say “thank you” in dozens of languages.
Buy one copy and we’ll send you these resources. Buy 5 copies for your team and receive all these resources, a Garrett the Carrot plush Carrot, and a complimentary copy of the Wall Street Journal bestseller A Carrot A Day—365 recognition ideas for every day of the year.
Simply forward your e-receipt, dated today or tomorrow (Jan. 14 or 15), from Amazon or Barnes & Noble to and we’ll send you your stuff at no charge!
For more information on the book, check out this month’s newsletter found here.
Wednesday Appreciation: Wash Away Your Troubles
January 13, 2010
Recognition doesn’t need to be stuffy and formal. One company we visited had a car wash to celebrate record earnings. Senior management grabbed buckets and rags and washed every car in the parking lot to thank employees for their great work.
Who wouldn’t want to say to the CEO, “Hey, buddy, you missed a spot.”
A Lesson on Recognition & Respect: Part Two
January 08, 2010
After seeing the movie Invictus, which I discussed in a previous post, I began reading the book the movie was based on, called Playing The Enemy by John Carlin. I’ve enjoyed the book from a historical and sporting perspective but more so from the aspect of how important it is to respect each other and our traditions.
Interview with Jim Blasingame of the Small Business Advocate
January 07, 2010
I had a nice visit with my friend, Jim Blasingame, this week. We discussed why employee engagement is needed now more than ever and talked about two organizations that increased their bottom lines by increasing employee engagement. Check it out!
Wednesday Appreciation: Carrots For The Kids
January 06, 2010
You do something nice for me, I appreciate it. You do something nice for my family, and all of a sudden we are family.
Today, before you leave the office, ask each of your employees about their kids. Find out when their birthdays are and how old each child is. On your calendar, mark those dates and celebrate with them – whether through a small gift or even a simple birthday card with a hand-written note. A thoughtful picture book or toy given on the birthday of your employee’s 5-year-old daughter could be the best thing you’ve ever done for morale … and will certainly bring you closer to your employee.
Is it important to be close with your employees? Let us put it this way: Do you work harder for people you like and who like you, or those who seem aloof and superior?
It Doesn’t Matter Who Gets the Credit
January 04, 2010
Sometimes the best teammate knows when it doesn’t really matter who gets the credit. I came across this wonderful story from Hindu tradition while reading a fantastic book called The Island of Bali is Littered with Prayers.
The story is one of the well-known tales from the Panchatantra and goes like this:
Kambugriva, a turtle, and his two friends, Sankata and Vikata the geese, lived near a lake that had begun to dry up because of a drought. They decided to find a new home but didn’t know how Kambugriva could make the journey. Finally the turtle came up with a very clever idea; the two geese could hold opposite ends of a stick in their feet, and he would grasp the middle of the stick with his mouth.
3 Tips to New Year’s Resolutions
January 01, 2010
My daughter recently spoke in our church meeting and gave some great advice on New Year’s resolutions. She highlighted three key components that I thought would be helpful for everyone:
1) Start Small. Too often, we set the HUGE goal that we have a very long shot of winning. We say we are going to lose 50 pounds and the goal is just too big. Start with losing 5 pounds and then build on that.
A Lesson on Recognition & Respect
December 31, 2009
To celebrate this holiday break together, I took the family to see the new movie Invictus. I highly recommend it! There was so much to gain from the story that is so wonderfully told in film by Clint Eastwood and portrayed on-screen by Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela.
Two things really struck me as life lessons in treating others well:
podcast
Station Casinos Conducts a Survey to Discover Where Recognition Has the Greatest Impact
January 27, 2010
Here’s a question: Will a recognition program have a greater impact on a highly engaged team or a struggling team? I was fortunate to spend some time with Station Casino’s Valerie Murzl, Corporate VP of Human Resources and Training, to discuss her company’s efforts to implement a Carrot Culture in her casinos. Listen to this and then tell me you wouldn’t want to work at Station Casinos—I dare you!
The Coolest Pet Store in the World!
August 10, 2009
This is an interview I had with Matt Davies from the Pets At Home chain in the UK. They shoot for OUTRAGEOUS customer service and it shows!
Interview with Gladys Tillmon and Janet Baker, VPs of Learning & Development, Aflac
February 16, 2009
Have you ever wondered the difference corporate training can make? In this case, Aflac takes it to a whole new level with customized corporate training focusing on the organizational brand and strategy. Chester sat down with Janet Baker, SVP of Corporate Learning and Gladys Williams-Tillmon, Vice President of Corporate Training to learn what makes Aflac executives so anxious to promote training and how a culture of appreciation is separating them from the competition.
Interview with Ted Priestly, Men’s Head Soccer Coach, College of the Holy Cross
January 12, 2009
Chester visits with Ted Priestly, former head coach of twelve years for the UMass Lowell River Hawks. Ted explains the difference it made for his team when he picked up a copy of The Carrot Principle and started implementing individual recognition. Ted credits The Carrot Principle as being a driving force to the team’s winning season which led to his acceptance of a head coach at Holy Cross starting Fall 2009.
Interview with Dan Cunningham, Chief People Officer, New York State Office of General Services
December 07, 2008
Dan discusses why an appreciation culture is valuable in tough economic times. He discusses the importance of using appreciation to retain top performing employees. He also discusses how many people who attended the training were initially skeptical about how this could help them, then witnessed the dynamic change as they saw the value of using appreciation in their leadership roles.
Interview with Ray Blanchette, CEO of Joe’s Crab Shack
October 26, 2008
Ray Blanchette, CEO of Joe’s Crab Shack restaurants shares the secret sauce in Joe’s recipe for excellent food and customer service and his company’s focus on making Joe’s a great place to work.
Interview Susan Baranowski, VP of HR, Jones New York
October 05, 2008
Chester visits with Susan about their ongoing training efforts to implement a Carrot Culture, from the executive team’s mental shift required to bring in a recognition program, to the certification workshop at Carrot HQ in Salt Lake City to implementation leading to decreased turnover, higher engagement and increased productivity.
Interview with Tom Garrett, President and CEO, Arby’s Restaurant Group
May 18, 2008
Tom shares some innovative ideas from Arby’s appreciation practices and why they are so appreciation oriented. He also highlights some of the specific benefits he has seen from the direct link between the employees he’s serving as President and CEO and the customers that they’re caring for and they’re serving.