Whether it's Valentine's Day, President's Day, or Groundhog Day, how do you express love for your clients, customers, board members, supporters, and followers? Do you send them Valentine's Day cards or Candy? Do you take them out to dinner or buy them gifts? The answer to all of these questions is probably NO.
I offer you the following Challenge for next week:
- Choose one segment of your Organizational EcoSystem (Service Recipients, Donors, Board Members, Staff, etc)
- Identify what your Service would be like if that segment ceased to exist (Kind of like "It's a Wonderful Life" for Board Members.
- Dedicate at least two hours to "thinking about how you would show your love and like for those special people"
- Choose your own "Valentine's Day" for that segment and shower them with the gifts you've dreamed up in step 3.
- Start the process again with another segment of your EcoSystem.
If you are successful at following each of these steps, you will change the culture of your organization for the better before next Valentine's Day. And that would be the greatest Valentine's gift you could give yourself and your organization.
PS: Happy Valentine's Day Babette, Ally, and Josh. You remind me everyday why I'm a very fortunate man.
Great post Kenn! I have found the most important part of any business is the people that surround it. That could be the customers supporting the business or the staff running the business. Ultimately, it's the people that can make or break the business. So I whole heartedly agree that it's crucial for organizations to engrain in their culture ways to continually show their love and appreciation for all their people.
ReplyDeleteAnd on a personal note, I would like to thank you Kenn for being such an amazing customer, partner, mentor and friend to me over the years. You truly are a thought leader, an inspiration, and a consistent voice of reason. Thank you for everything you do for me and the numerous others that look up to you.
Eric, thank you for the exceedingly kind words. I know you have always modeled these type of behaviors and it shows in so many ways throughout your company and your relationships. And you are more than welcome for all of the time we have spent talking, thinking, and planning for the future. I am honored to have you as a friend.
DeleteLove it Kenn....
ReplyDeleteThis is all so true! People need to be appreciated whether it be with in the family, social circle, non-profit or job. That is the way to keep people striving to keep on keeping on to do better and feel good! We do this in our non-profit with kids and the leaders. and not just on V-Day. It is good to be valued in the eyes of others. Thanks for posting! :)
again...i am SOOOOOOOOOOOO thankful you are back in my life! :) (Happy dance!)