It’s that time of year! When most Dance Studio Owners want and need to reward their hard-working faculty and staff. But there may be times when funds are a bit tight and you will need to be creative as to the type of reward you will be able to give. I have found through the years, that our amazing team is always very grateful for anything they are given. But I also know that they really love it when we give them something that they cherish or enjoy. It shows that you know and care about them. The key here is to let them know how much you appreciate them and all that they do for your business.
I remember once hearing a studio owner telling someone that they didn’t give out any bonuses or Holiday gifts because their faculty and staff were lucky to have a job. And while yes, that may be true, we are also lucky to have them share their passion and expertise with our students. If you don’t believe that to be true then I recommend you look for new people to hire. We certainly feel blessed with the amazing group of people who work with us and we care deeply about them.
Here is a very simple thing to remember:
Happy Staff = Happy Customers
Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin always says that “Employees come first and customers come second”. His philosophy is that an employee that is totally committed to his company will move mountains to satisfy his customers. He believes that a person who works for a company and is 100 percent proud of the brand, will be your best ambassador and promoter. And you know what? He is right!
Now, while one year end or Holiday bonus will not be the only thing you will do to achieve this kind of employee loyalty it is certainly part of the process to show your team how much they mean to you and your business.
Here are some ideas on what to give:
1. Gift certificate are a wonderful option. Especially if you can give something that you know the person already likes and uses. From Starbucks, to restaurants and everything else in between. They can also be for online shopping as well.
2. Massage session. Again, you will need to know if they like to get one. Many of the local spas will also give additional incentives that will be of no extra charge to you.
3. Tickets to a show or concert. Depending on where you live you can find tickets to something that they love. It could even be tickets to a sporting event if they have a local favorite team or sport.
4. Cash is king. If you can hand out cash, then that is always a welcome gift. Some may say that it is a bit impersonal but most people would love to receive cash with a very nice card explaining that you want them to spend this money on themselves to get something special.
5. Take your team to the Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo in Las Vegas. What better way to say thank you to your team then to bring them to an event when they can learn, recharge and have some fun. Best of all we can offer you a payment plan for easy budgeting. For more information visit: www.danceteacherexpo.com
6. Give them a hand -made gift. If funds are real tight, you can go to a local crafts store and find something that you can make by hand that is tailored to each individual. This may not seem like much but if it is made with care and love I can assure you that the person receiving it will be thankful for your efforts and time.
We always try to have a party for our entire team where we can get together, to break bread, have a few adult beverages and talk about the past few months. While it can be challenging with everyone being so busy, but we have found it is a great way to bond and to find out more about what is happening with our people and not just in dance but in their lives. We have also seen these parties turn into an unplanned brainstorming session where some great ideas are hatched.
One more thing…
Don’t forget to give yourself a bonus as well. YES YOU!!! You deserve it. So go ahead and book a massage, go on a weekend trip or just take some ‘me’ time to do something really NICE for yourself. Don’t put it off. Your business is there to serve you as well.
There is an old saying that “People don’t care about how much you know, until they know how much you care” and it is so very true. Your faculty and staff really are a BIG key to your studio growth and continued success. This is a great time of the year to say Thank You and to let them know how very grateful you are for all that they do.
Happy Holidays!
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