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Category: ENGAGEMENT & APPRECIATION

Employee productivity increases when employees feel valued and engaged in their work. Free of stress, happy, and appreciated, employees will work harder and yield greater output. While benefits, compensation, and job growth may be important long term, day-to-day happiness correlates more strongly to regular employee recognition. Communicate frequently with team members to show your respect and appreciation of their contributions.

Tackle the Challenges of Hybrid Employees

Tackle the Challenges of Hybrid Employees

I gathered with a bunch of business execs from small, medium, and large companies, in a range of industries from the service sector to retail. We began discussing our true feelings about our increasingly remote-friendly workplaces. I’m not about to share any huge reveals that you haven’t... Read More
Learning Golf in my 50s — Lessons for Trainers

Learning Golf in my 50s — Lessons for Trainers

Learning something new is never easy, but it also seems to get harder as we get older. At 57, I decided to take my first golf lesson. While I’ve always been fairly athletic, I’m completely dorky when it comes to arm coordination. My two sons will attest to this as they’ve each trie... Read More
15 Fascinating Facts about Smiling

15 Fascinating Facts about Smiling

I’m a happy person, a glass-half-full, an optimist. So when I see an article about the benefits of smiling, I can’t help but smile myself. Smiling seems so core to a positive workplace, effective customer service, and successful training. 7 Interesting Facts about Smiling Smiles use 5 to... Read More
From Team-Bonding Activities to Team-Building

From Team-Bonding Activities to Team-Building

Team Bonding Activities—a stepping-stone to Team Building We’ve been neglecting team building. It hasn’t been on purpose. In fact, we’ve been trying hard to keep our teams together despite physical distancing and the absence of consistent day-to-day interactions. We’ve gotten together over... Read More
Make “Virtual” Meetings Magnificent!

Make “Virtual” Meetings Magnificent!

We attended HRDQ-U’s webinar with trainer extraordinaire, Cindy Huggett — Converting Classroom Activities to Engaging Virtual Activities. Cindy was chock-full of ideas to make Virtual Meetings Magnificent and we wanted to share with you! “Transform” activities – donR... Read More
Staff Appreciation Ideas – COVID-Style

Staff Appreciation Ideas – COVID-Style

One thing that amazes me during the pandemic is the surge in creativity. Creativity abounds in all facets of our economy and, hopefully, we’ve contributed as well. I’ve always liked the saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” When we see what’s in the works toda... Read More
Building Relationships through Sharing Vulnerability

Building Relationships through Sharing Vulnerability

Managers work so hard to build effective teams and develop strong working relationships. Communication and Listening Exercises is the #1 post on this blog for good reason. Learning to communicate and listen, however, is only half the battle. Bringing people together also requires sharing vulnerabili... Read More
Finding Happiness at Work

Finding Happiness at Work

My job tends to focus on building healthy relationships, happiness, and productivity at work.  Still, Eli Finkel’s research on marriages piqued my interest. With all the time we spend at work, why shouldn’t we ask as much of our job as we ask of our partners, family and friends? Finkel ... Read More
Don’t hate . . . collaborate

Don’t hate . . . collaborate

I grew up in a family of three girls. Although I was fanatical about sports, I was not a sports fan. I was a doer, not a viewer. But now, living in New England with my husband and two boys, being a sports fan is not optional. So, as the Patriots fan I’ve become, I… Read More
5 Mission Critical Motives for Meetings and Ways to Make Them Marvelous

5 Mission Critical Motives for Meetings and Ways to Make Them Marvelous

My mind was swimming with ideas on how to gamify work and get more done at work after reading Gamestorming by Dave Gray and Sunni Brown . Meetings continue to get a bad rap, but as we transform meetings from time-wasters to strategic imperatives, the question isn’t whether to meet, but rather ... Read More

Employee Engagement and Motivation

Employee engagement and motivation are crucial aspects of any successful organization. They go hand in hand to foster a productive and positive work environment, leading to increased performance and employee satisfaction. Engaged employees are typically more enthusiastic, dedicated, and aligned with the company's goals. They are more likely to go the extra mile, be proactive, and actively contribute to the organization's growth. Engaged employees also tend to have better relationships with their colleagues and managers, leading to a more cohesive and collaborative workplace. Those receiving ample employee recognition also tend to exhibit higher levels of creativity and innovation, seeking opportunities for self-improvement and career advancement.

Beyond Tokens of Appreciation

In addition to maximizing employee recognition and motivation, successful work environments (a.k.a. WorkSMART organizations) help their teams excel by equipping them with critical tools and resources. These may not be the staples that you'll find in an office supply store, but their equally important, as they:
  • Promote the development of positive, trusting relationships.
  • Occupy fidget fingers and wandering attention.
  • Strengthen team communication and listening skills, time management, leadership, and project oversight.
The WorkSMART blog by Trainers Warehouse curates thousands of tools, tips, research, games, exercises, and activities to maximize organizational effectiveness. All of the ideas in the blog are complimentary.

If you're looking to purchase consultant-grade tools to implement the ideas found in this blog, shop online at TRAINERSwarehouse.com