We’re all in a bizarre situation. Covid-19 reigns. There are no clear prospects for the future, while many organisations are struggling to survive.
Is your company closed at this time because of the rules and regulations in connection with the coronavirus? Especially in this case, it is crucial to invest in a flourishing corporate culture by prioritizing hospitality services. Because you want your excellent and loyal employees back as soon as you can open the doors again. Right?
Successful companies have one thing in common: these all have a flourishing corporate culture.
Do you strive for success? Then prioritize realising a flourishing corporate culture. How? By investing time and energy into each single employee.
Software versus hardware
Hospitality can be seen as your company’s software. And products, processes, interior design, systems, etc. as the hardware. Hospitality also contributes to the hardware, to a lesser extent. An easy chair in a restaurant contributes to your comfort.
We entrepreneurs tend to invest more quickly in hardware than in software. Changing the interior design of your company is easier than training your employees in creating valuable guest experiences. However, investing in hardware is extremely expensive. Investing in software on the other side, does not require a huge investment at all. In fact: with very little money you can realise a flourishing corporate culture.
In addition, the positive impact of an investment in software is many times greater than an investment in hardware (only).
The moment of truth
Put yourself in this situation: you are staying in a luxury hotel, where you do not feel welcome, the receptionist is grumpy, the bell boy is grumbling about your heavy suitcase, your complaint about your lukewarm coffee is not taken seriously… so, you will most likely never come back to stay here again. And neither do your friends, family and a lot of other people, after you have expressed your frustrations about your dreadful experience generously, both offline and online.
But imagine! You stay in a bit of a dated hotel, but you are welcomed with a sincere smile by the concierge who immediately offers to take over your suitcase. The receptionist is already making eye contact as you walk towards the reception. Her friendly attitude and genuine smile make you feel good. She asks – genuinely interested – how your trip was. She sees in the system that it is your first stay. She feels you are interested in information about the facilities of the hotel…
How does it make you feel? Very pleased, right? Consciously and unconsciously, you are going to spend more than you intended. Money is not so important anymore, because you are having a good time. You feel good. You deserve it. And how often are you spending your time like this? So, why not have a drink at the bar accompanied by a cheerful bartender, before going to the lovely restaurant for a small snack. You’re in such a good MOOD!
Time and energy
A flourishing corporate culture needs employees who live up to the mission and vision of your company. Furthermore, employees need to be motivated, appreciated, heard and seen by you and your colleagues. Empowering your team members is another important task for you as a manager. This is an ongoing development process. You must be willing to invest a lot of time and energy into your team members. Happy employees make happy guests.
Are you inspired? Do you have the energy and confidence that you are going to make a difference? Grab a piece of paper. Find an inspiring spot (on a bench overlooking a lake, on a tree trunk in the middle of a forest, or on your laid-back sofa with relaxing music playing at the background. … or go for a run. And let your creativity flow. Write down everything that comes up in your mind to create an even more flourishing corporate culture, than you already might have.
A few tips to get you started:
Tip 1: Keep in touch with your employees and show genuine interest. Give them a call and ask how they are doing. Send them a handwritten card with a personal note. That you miss his/her lovely smile, his/her positivity and that you hope to see him/her soon again at work for example. I am sure you have something positive to say about all your employees. Just make sure it is genuine.
Tip 2: Ask your employees about the positive things at work and where they see space for development. This makes employees feel valued and important. They look at your company through different eyes. Some of their remarks might clarify your struggle with certain aspects. Make sure you provide feedback towards every remark you receive. Announce when one of their ideas is being introduced and explain why others will not be. Undoubtedly, it is also good to hear the positive things about your organisation. A win-win situation.
Tip 3: Make sure your team stays in contact with each other by organizing online games, for example. Exchanging recipes, films and books also works well to keep your team motivated and inspired. If you need help or you are looking for something bigger, send us a note.
Tip 4: Ask employees to introduce themselves. Such introductions can be published in a newsletter, via intranet or by email. In this way you get to know your colleagues in a different way. It often leads to empathy and it prevents prejudice or takes it away.
Tip 5: Share the most inspirational quotes with each other. If some of your team members do not have an inspirational quote as yet, this is a good time to think about one. Print and frame these, and place these on the wall in a prominent place. Or provide your employees with a frame and ask them to frame their most inspirational quote themselves. Even more impact!
Tip 6: Share your hobbies with each other and who knows, some employees may have the same hobby, without knowing it earlier on. Perhaps one of your employees inspires someone else to explore the same hobby.
Tip 7: Compose different music lists with your team (for the morning, afternoon and evening) and play these at your working premises. “Music has a profound influence on our mood and behaviour. After smell, hearing is the sense that is most closely linked to the parts of our brain that regulate associations and memories. No wonder you’ll recognize your favourite song after less than a second! It immediately puts you in a positive state of mind through a shot of dopamine in the brain”, according to Consumatics. If you are interested in receiving this remarkable e-book “Sounds like Sales” by Consumatics, let us know.
How to implement these tips?
- Schedule a meeting with your assistance and/ or supervisor(s);
- Involve them in your plans and ask them to share their ideas as well;
- Select those ideas which inspires you all;
- Check who is eager to implement certain ideas (it may also be an employee) and what tools or support might be needed;
- Let the creativity flow.
Keep on organizing such activities all year long. It is an ongoing process. If you wish to have a chat with us to explore your ideas, please let me know.
What results to expect?
Your team is touched, stays motivated and involved in your organisation.
We humans need social contacts to feel good. Since most of us (normally) spend many hours a week at work, it is extremely important to gain a tremendous amount of positive energy from colleagues. The more, the better. It benefits the well-being of your employees and automatically positively influences your corporate culture.
