This time of year is so magical. The leaves are changing, the weather is cooling down, and people are stopping to consider what they are thankful for. This is the perfect time to show appreciation for the people who mean the most to you, including your coworkers and customers. We wanted to share a few of the little things we do to give back.

Your Team Is a Treasure

You started your company from the ground up with a vision, a dream and determination to succeed, but you knew you couldn’t do it alone. Slowly over time, you built a team that believes in your vision and works hard to bring your dreams to life. You share a mutual appreciation and are willing to go above and beyond together to support the growth of your business. Don’t take this lightly. Show them how much you believe in them too!

When you get to know a little bit about each person on your team, you grow lasting relationships and increase productivity at the same time. Touch base with your team on a personal level and  ask about their lives outside of the office. You can send them an appreciative email or leave them a note that tells them they are doing a great job. At EMB, our CEO Laurel Mintz hosts happy hours and sends random gifts when any of us go through changes in life. Buying gifts may not be the way you share appreciation, so find your own way.

Your Coworkers Are Your Co-family

Let’s face it, you spend at least eight hours a day with your coworkers. If you’re remote, you may not get lots of face time together, but you still get to know them on a personal level. Either way, when you take the time to reach out, you build lasting bonds that drive success in the office and bring joy to your day-to-day work life. A few ways to show our appreciation include:

1. Schedule an in-person or virtual coffee date to discuss anything but work. 
2. Make it a habit to send each member of your team a compliment or point out something you like about their personal or professional habits. 
3. Find common interests.
4. Offer to jump in and help when you see someone is overwhelmed. 

Remember: at the end of the day, no matter your title or position, your workplace is made up of people all working towards a common mission. Show your support for one another and have a little fun along the way. 

Your Customers Are Your Core 

Without your customers, you wouldn’t be in business, so you should show gratitude to them at all times. They believe in your products and services and share their experience with others. (That’s free advertising!) Make them feel appreciated so they continue to support you. Here are a few memorable customer appreciation ideas we’ve seen:

1. Send a handwritten note. It can be a thank-you note when they make a purchase or a holiday card to show them some seasonal love. In the digital world, a handwritten note goes a long way. 
2. Take notice when your customers go above and beyond. When they leave reviews, comment on posts, share your products, etc., acknowledge their effort.
3. Offer added value during difficult times. A free gift with purchase makes an impact, and so does a free consultation session when times are tough. 
4. Send a small gift or a discount code for special occasions such as their birthday.
5. Check in with your customers from time to time via surveys. Value their insights and recommendations and listen to their requests.

We hope you all have a festive holiday season, and we truly appreciate you all now and always!

Biana Lerman, Business Development Director
Elevate My Brand