[Note: I’m happy and humbled to re-post the following written many years ago by Jason Stershic, digital marketing professional, blogger, podcast producer, host of The Palmer Files Podcast, and (best of all!) my son. Thanks, kid!]
Sybil Stershic is my mother and, for most of my conscious life, she’s been the proprietor of Quality Service Marketing. When she founded the business, I was 5, and it has had a profound impact upon both my personal and professional life.
Personally, she was around more than most, as she worked from home. I was the audience for her as she practiced her material to a room of one, and she was there to take breaks and be a mom.
As I grew up in a world of advancing technology, I became her “Chief Technology Officer,” a title I still hold today. I came to set up computers, fax machines, modems, tablets, smartphones and introduce her to the world of social media – and I now jokingly take all credit for her social media success.
Professionally, I have to give her credit for my views on internal marketing. I assume I came to most of them by osmosis, due to the fact that I was her audience in the beginning and I don’t recall having great conversations about them until well after I established my own views. I’m fortunate – for several reasons – that they coincided with hers.
Those views have allowed me to be successful. I know to treat internal marketing and communication with the same importance as external. This was completely evident as I worked in retail for a company that had a good idea of internal marketing but horrible follow through.
Almost five years ago, I set upon my own business endeavor, Spectyr Media, Ltd. I do consulting for social media and internet marketing as well as branding, graphic design and website design (this one included).
My mother is now a treasured business associate, taking the time to answer any questions a small business owner may have and being supportive of my business. When I can, I urge those of my clients who could use her services to do so.
My mother has a great marketing mind and she is also a great mom! Happy Mother’s Day, to my mom and to yours. If you’ve learned and gained as much as I have personally and professionally from your mother as I have, then consider yourself fortunate. I know that I do!
[“Mothers Day” image credit: Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay]
Like most people, I’m looking forward to putting 2020 behind us.
Reflecting on the year, I noticed many words starting with “r” used to describe the pandemic’s immediate, near- and long-term impacts. Here are the r-words that most resonated with me and why.
Response and recovery
How healthcare professionals, scientists, leaders, and communities acted to help those affected. How business and educators adapted/adopted technology to enable people to work and learn virtually. People who also helped include manufacturers who revamped their facilities to make sanitizer; volunteers who made masks; mental health experts who made themselves available for counseling; restauranteurs and volunteers who provided food for people on the front lines and those in need. [This list is not exhaustive.]
Recognition
How people celebrated the heroic efforts of healthcare workers, “essential” front-line workers, food service, and others who continued to serve while at risk themselves.
Reset, reframe Coming to grips with the situation and putting it in perspective. Like other major natural and man-made disruptions that significantly change our behaviors and priorities (e.g., earthquakes, fires, epidemics, wars, etc.), COVID-19 is a societal reset that will affect how we live and work.
Resilience
This is our ability to face adversity, bounce back from it, and learn and grow from the experience. I’m continually amazed how people manage to cope and adapt. Getting through a traumatic situation involves persevering and building on what works and what doesn’t.
Renew, reimagine
Changes in how we live and work in response to the pandemic created opportunities to re-think how we live and work.
Reality
The need to be realistic while trying to be positive also resonated with me as turning the calendar page to a new year doesn’t mean an automatic refresh.
“We are in this for the long haul. Expecting that a single day will come when we are liberated from the stresses and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic will, sadly, be an exercise in frustration. We will likely never go back to the same “normal” in which we operated in January of 2020.” Beth Steinhorn, Redefining Leadership: Finding Balance in Recovery and Renewal
Ready to move forward It’s too early to predict what the world will look like post-pandemic, except that we are profoundly changed. I’m hopeful that at some point we’ll experience the eventual return of in-person collaborative meetings that co-exist with virtual ones; unrestricted in-person dining; attendance at cultural, entertainment, and sports venues; group celebrations; and handshakes and hugs — especially hugs!
I wish you all a better, safer, and more sane New Year!
[Image credits: Goodbye 2020 by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash. 2021 Stay healthy by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.]
My most surprising discovery during the pandemic is the extraordinary sense of connection I feel with business colleagues around the globe, and it’s stronger than ever.
I’ve participated in numerous Zoom meetings the past five months with two international groups I’m part of: the all-volunteer Global Facilitators Serving Communities and the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Certified Facilitators community. I’m blown away by our sharing parallel experiences each time we meet online.
Regardless of geography or culture, we’re all grappling with similar concerns and emotions:
worrying about the health and welfare of our families, friends, neighbors, and communities
social distancing in lieu of socializing as we used to know it, especially missing in-person handshakes and hugs
the sudden shift to working virtually (even among those of us who have worked from home for many years) with evaporating boundaries between work and home
figuring out how and when we’ll be able to sustain our work and livelihoods
a roller coaster of emotional highs and lows while acknowledging it’s OK to not feel OK.
Each one of us is dealing with fatigue from being “hyper-engaged digitally, yet highly stressed emotionally,” according to HR industry analyst Josh Bersin. And while we have different ways of coping, I find comfort in knowing I’m not alone in this.
What hit home for me is how much I’ve come to value the strength of our connections. Even greater than being members in a professional community is our human bond in a global community.
[Image credit: photo by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay]
I was recently reminded of a practical and low-cost way to help keep employees engaged in this stressful time. Surprisingly, I found it in an article written last year before the unthinkable happened.
It’s easy and somethingeveryone can do — bosses, business owners, co-workers, colleagues, partners; i.e., anyone you work with.
It can be used with any employees, regardless of whether they work remotely, at a company locale, or combination of the two.
And it’s applicable anytime it’s appropriate, not just during this pandemic.
Here it is:
“Tell someone how grateful you are that they took something annoying off of your plate, stepped up when you needed them, or just made work a little better.
Whatever it is, be as specific as possible. It might feel small, but this tiny nudge towards gratitude is incredibly powerful. It will ripple throughout your organization. And it will make work better for you and for the people around you.” Laszlo Bock, CEO and author
In the past several months we’ve witnessed heart-warming and well-deserved expressions of gratitude to people on the front lines of the current crisis. Similarly, we can extend simple, sincere acknowledgment to the people we work with and for. And we can do the same with our family, friends, and neighbors.
One serious consequence of the current pandemic is that many nonprofits are unable to rely on volunteers as a significant on-site resource. In Coronavirus & Volunteers: Your Guide for Managing Uncertainty, Tobi Johnson describes this challenging situation:
“Leaders of volunteers must often balance competing priorities – the needs of volunteers, the needs of the organization, and the needs of the communities they serve.
“In many cases, organizations can’t simply shut down their facilities. And, front-line workers who rely on volunteers to supplement their work are forced to choose between having an extra pair of hands and risking disease spread to clients, co-workers, volunteers, and the families of all.”
I intended to survey nonprofit leaders about their plans to celebrate volunteers this year but posts on my local Nonprofit Agencies COVID-19 Group Facebook page were (and still are) so filled with desperate requests for masks, gloves, food, and other critical mission-related supplies that I didn’t have the heart to ask them.
Understand volunteer motivation and why it can’t be taken for granted
People don’t volunteer for the sake of being recognized. They dedicate their time and talent because they’re attracted to an organization’s mission — they want to be part of something that matters and know their efforts make a difference. As I wrote in my book, Share of Mind, Share of Heart: Marketing Tools of Engagement for Nonprofits:
“Mission matters. The people behind the mission also matter, and their passion for the mission can never be taken for granted.”
That’s why COVID-19 isn’t an excuse for not recognizing volunteers. So what can you do?
Volunteer appreciation during the pandemic … and after
A sincere and simple “thank you” message to your volunteers is what’s needed to acknowledge their continued support of your organization and mission. This can be part of, or in addition to, any special COVID-19 communication update(s) you share with volunteers and stakeholders.
Many volunteers are frustrated in not being able to directly serve as they did pre-pandemic and would rather be side-by-side with your staff than sidelined. You may also acknowledge this in your thank-you and, if applicable, offer virtual and other alternative options for them to continue supporting your nonprofit.
When the pandemic is over, many of your volunteers will be more than ready to return. You may also find yourself with new volunteers motivated to serve.
And next year, we can look forward to having have more volunteers to recognize and time to participate in more formal volunteer appreciation efforts.
[Title image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay. Thank you card image by Howard Riminton on Unsplash.]
This global holiday “addresses the basic need for human recognition and appreciation. Nobody wins commercially, but everybody gains emotionally. And therein lies its power.”
It’s easy to participate in “the most positive day in the world” — take a moment to compliment someone: friend, family member, colleague, neighbor, caregiver, teacher, store clerk, first responder, restaurant server, etc. You know who’s important to you — tell them you value and appreciate them.
The first Friday in March is Employee Appreciation Day that was created 25 years ago to focus attention on employee recognition in all industries.
For those companies that practice effective employee recognition on an ongoing basis, celebrating the first Friday in March can be a fun event. Host a special breakfast or lunch, give out special treats to everyone, or find a creative way to recognize how employees collectively contribute to company goals, etc., as long as it’s done with an authentic message of appreciation.
You should skip these holidays, however …
IF your observance is forced. People know lip-service when they hear it and token efforts of acknowledgement fall flat.
Authenticity and sincerity matter when telling/showing people you appreciate them. So don’t do it if you don’t mean it.
[Image credit: Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash.]
[Note: Not just in the spirit of Thanksgiving, but all year long we can be thankful. That’s why I love this post from Curt Rosengren, “Passion Catalyst” dedicated to helping others “love their work and change their world in a way that feels personally meaningful to them.”
Special thanks to Curt for allowing me to share this on my blog. For more great content, check out his Aliveness & Impact Blog.]
35 Gratitude-Prompting Questions That Can Change Your Life
by Curt Rosengren
How much is there in your life to be grateful for? How frequently do you notice it? If you’re like most of us, you’re probably leaving a lot of opportunity for gratitude on the table. And that’s unfortunate, because it can have a powerfully positive impact on your life.
I often call gratitude the well-being wonder-drug. Extensive research has shown a wide range of benefits, including increased happiness, improved relationships, better physical health, and less depression. It can even help you sleep better.
There are many ways to incorporate a gratitude practice into your life, from gratitude journaling, to writing a daily thank you letter, to making it a goal to find 10 things to say thank you for each day.
However you decide to bring gratitude into your day, it all starts with one thing – noticing!
Until you start to build that automatic gratitude muscle, that can sometimes feel easier said than done. Most of our lives are awash in things to be grateful for, but we are so busy with life, its worries and preoccupations, that we don’t always see them.
To help you get started, here are 35 gratitude-prompting questions to explore.
Who do I appreciate?
How am I fortunate?
What material possessions am I thankful for?
What abilities do I have that I’m grateful for?
What about my surroundings (home/neighborhood/city/etc.) am I thankful for?
What experiences have I had that I am grateful for?
What happened today/yesterday/this week/this month/this year that I am grateful for?
What opportunities do I have that I am thankful for?
What have others in my life done that I am thankful for?
What have others done that I am benefiting from in my life (even if I don’t know who those people are)?
What relationships am I thankful for?
What am I taking for granted that, if I stop to think about it, I am grateful for?
What is there about the challenges/difficulties I have experienced (or am currently experiencing) that I can be thankful for? (e.g., What have I learned? How have I grown?)
What is different today than it was a year ago that I’m thankful for?
What insights have I gained that I am grateful for?
What am I able to offer others that I am grateful for?
What opportunities to help others am I thankful for?
What can I find to be grateful for in this very moment? (Challenge yourself. Make it a game.)
What do I see right now (with your eyes) that I can be grateful for?
What is associated with something I’m grateful for that I can be grateful for? (For example, if you’re grateful for the cup of coffee you’re enjoying, there’s the potential to be grateful for everything that went into it – the farmer who grew it, the earth it grew in, the sunshine and rain, the people who picked it, the business and people who involved in getting it from there to where you are, the roasters, etc.).
What can I enjoy right now that I can be grateful for? (For example, looking out my window I’m enjoying the color contrast of a branch of a juniper tree that has both live green and dead brown tips – when I really stop and notice it, it’s quite pretty.)
What do I hear that I am grateful for (birds? music? the sound of children giggling?)
What do I normally take for granted that I am grateful for (clean and readily available drinking water? flush toilets? an abundance of food?)
What interaction(s) have I had lately that I’m grateful for? (the funny barista? the gentle smile from the person you walked past in the grocery store? the compliment from a co-worker?)
What have I learned lately that I’m grateful for?
Who am I grateful to for teaching me something lately?
What do I get to do that I’m grateful for? (hobbies? work you enjoy? helping someone? going to a good movie?)
How have other people helped me that I’m grateful for?
What opportunities to help others have I had that I can be grateful for?
What do I find fascinating? Can I be grateful for that fascination?
What emotional feelings am I grateful for right now?
What physical sensations am I grateful for right now?
What is the subtlest thing I can notice that I can be grateful for? (a gentle breeze? the lingering smell of a delicious meal?)
What have I seen others do that I can feel grateful for seeing (chasing somebody down to return money they dropped? giving up a seat on a crowded bus? giving a stranger a genuine compliment?)
How is my life made easier? Who contributes to that?
My own gratitude practice ebbs and flows. When it flows – when I prime the pump and really start noticing what’s there – it never fails to blow me away how much there is to be grateful for. And the more I notice to be grateful for, the better it feels.
And my life isn’t particularly unusual or special. As you go deeper into gratitude, I have no doubt that you will find the same to be true for you.
Try making it a 30-day experiment. You could write a daily gratitude journal. Or keep a notebook with you and jot down things to be grateful for as you notice them. Maybe you can do a daily gratitude exchange with a friend or family member, sharing something you’re thankful for that day (perfect for the family dinner table). I particularly like the idea of taking one question a day and doing a deep dive using that question as a lens.
However you do it, gratitude is a gift you can give yourself that can pay big dividends.
[Image credit: photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash]
“unofficial holiday [that] celebrates mothers and fathers who go to work while they are raising children. Those children are the most likely group of persons to take part in Working Parents Day. They might appreciate their parents for reconciling both: family life and earning enough money to afford a certain standard in life. Many parents do not have a choice, though, because alimenting a family is expensive and can become a financial challenge. Working Parents Day honors the ability to be a loving parent while building up a career.”
According to another source,
“Although the origins of Working Parents Day are unknown, it seems logical to suggest it was created by an overworked, under-appreciated mother or father, seeking some basic recognition for their efforts.”
Why celebrate all parents?
Parenting is one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs there is – regardless of whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or you work off-site or from home. If your kids aren’t inclined to honor this designated “holiday,” I suggest you take time to celebrate yourself.
September 16th notwithstanding, everyday is Working Parents Day. Here’s to all of us!
Special acknowledgment: I dedicate this post to my beloved mother and father who were exceptional working parents.
[Image credit: Photo by BlueAngel16 from Pixabay.]
This powerful statement is from the late Bob Wood, former Chairman of Wood Dining Services, whom I had the privilege of interviewing for my first book on internal marketing, Taking Care of the People Who Matter Most: A Guide to Employee-Customer Care.
Bob was the epitome of an engaged leader who truly cared about his employees and customers as reflected in this description of the company culture:
“The Wood Company’s recipe for success is developing and nurturing its people. We value and understand the difference they can make in pleasing our customers.”
I wish there were more inspired leaders like Bob who knew how to nourish a successful brand from the inside out.
[With Employee Appreciation Day approaching, I’m delighted to share this special post from my friends at myHR Partner. These HR professionals are serious about their work, yet also have a great sense of humor. I encourage you to visit their Modern Employer blog where you can find helpful and informative content.]
myHR Partner’s Cartoon Employee Hall of Fame
In recognition of Employee Appreciation Day, which falls on March 1stthis year, we would like to share our first Cartoon Employee Hall of Fame. It’s a short list right now, but we’ve included our expert commentary to make it special. We’ve also included suggestions for what to do to celebrate your workforce on their special day in honor of these inductees. Enjoy!
Homer Simpson With famous quotes like “Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They’re about to announce the lottery numbers” and “I think Smithers picked me because of my motivational skills. Everyone says they have to work a lot harder when I’m around,” how could we not recognize Homer’s influence on legions of employees who seek to improve their work habits and have been encouraged to realize that at least they are not as bad as that guy.
Our HR commentary:Watching Homer Simpson at work, you have to wonder “Who the heck was that guy’s hiring manager?” Can you imagine what kind of antics would have turned up on his background check? The show’s writers are missing out on comic gold by not covering that in an episode. Talk about a company in need of help with its hiring process! Employee Appreciation Day idea inspired by Mr. Simpson: Donut buffet.
SpongeBob Square Pants SpongeBob loves his job as a short order cook at the Krusty Krab, and he’s good at it, too. We salute his positive attitude and work ethic, although his mannerism and overly outward personality can at times feel like an assault on the senses. What he lacks in workplace etiquette he does make up for in song-and-dance routines, however. Because he doesn’t ever intentionally mean to annoy anyone, it’s funny to us. For Squidward, not so much.
Our HR commentary:Could you have a more energetic or optimistic employee? That type of enthusiasm in the workplace is definitely needed — in moderation, of course. When it begins to become a distraction to his coworkers, that’s when a constructive conversation should occur. Maybe Mr. Krabs could conduct such conversations 2,000 leagues under the sea. Employee Appreciation Day idea inspired by the square-pantsed one: Karaoke and line dancing lunch hour.
Mike Wazowski and Sully In a world where monsters generate their city’s power by opening random doors and scaring children, the Monsters Inc. team of Mike Wazowski and Sully are the undisputed company champs. They always bring in the most screams and are hailed by management as the greatest thing since sliced bread. They are good guys and dedicated workers and deserve to be recognized and rewarded for their achievements, including induction into our Hall of Fame.
Our HR commentary: Mike and Sully rock, there’s no doubt, but their rock star status might have inadvertently worked against the larger team they belonged to at the company. Even putting creepy, evil Randall aside, when team leaders focus too much on just the brightest shining gems in the company, they miss out on the diamonds in the rough. Missing opportunities to build up the rest of your team can really stifle growth, create internal resentment and discourage other talented employees. Employee Appreciation Day idea inspired by Monsters Inc.’s most famous duo:Door prizes, of course.
Fred Flintstone The world’s most famous prehistoric “bronto crane operator” (we believe the more politically correct title “geological engineer”) is anything but your typical quarry employee. He works at Slate Rock and Gravel Company, and even though his boss, Mr. Slate, has fired him on many occasions, Fred’s better work traits always seem to win him his job back at the end.
Our HR commentary:Fred Flintstone may be loveable but he is definitely the kind of employee who needs help keeping his emotions in check on the job. If you have a lot of Freds on your team, you probably should have training for managers on how to work with “drama queens” and other distracting personalities, as well as some team training on how to communicate more effectively. Employee Appreciation Day idea inspired by our favorite caveman:Company bowling tournament.
George Jetson
He works at Spacely’s Sprockets turning the Referential Universal Digital Indexer (R.U.D.I.) on and off. It’s reassuring to know that in the future a nine-hour workweek full of button pushing may be the norm. We must also admit that the we like the idea of someday being able to come home from the office to find that housework consists of pressing more buttons, when it’s not being done by a robotic maid, of course.
Our HR commentary:More than 50 years after ‘The Jetsons’ first aired on TV, there are still so many workplace communication issues in those episodes that are relevant. Email, texting, social media and other technological advances haven’t cured the problems. In some cases these modern conveniences have actually made the communication problem worse. One accidental reply-all email or ill-worded voicemail can make you want to just scream “Jane! Stop this crazy thing!” Employee Appreciation Day idea inspired by the Mr. Spacely’s star button pusher: This is a tough one. Maybe a ’60s inspired lunch theme and serve moon pies all around?
Ready to move forward
A sincere and simple “thank you” message to your volunteers is what’s needed to acknowledge their continued support of your organization and mission. This can be part of, or in addition to, any special COVID-19 communication update(s) you share with volunteers and stakeholders.
The first Friday in March is Employee Appreciation Day that was created 25 years ago to focus attention on employee recognition in all industries.
