Running a small business is a busy occupation that requires most of your time and effort. It can be hard to stop and appreciate your wins, big or small, but it’s important for you and your team to recognise the hard work that goes into a successful business. It’s also important to reward ourselves and acknowledge team efforts to create a company culture of motivation, comradery and satisfaction.
Sometimes, it can be hard to find the time to celebrate or to even know how to celebrate. Here are seven ways to celebrate success with your small business, be it with your team or yourself.
1. Acknowledge those who deserve it
Firstly, for celebrations to be effective, it’s important that achievements are rewarded fairly throughout your business. If some achievements are rewarded and others seemingly go unnoticed then it can be extremely frustrating for staff who may feel like they’re ignored.
Rewards and celebrations should be based on merit, not on office politics. When achievements are being celebrated fairly, your staff will be more motivated to reach their goals.
2. Dinner and drinks after work
When it comes to ways of celebrating company achievements, there’s nothing more simple and effective than dinner and drinks after work. This allows team members to interact and socialise in a relaxed environment and will help to build the team’s relationships. Of course, this occasion is better if the whole team is involved in the success.
3. Say thank you
The importance of clear and genuine appreciation for the hard work of your staff should not be underestimated. Not every goal has to be celebrated with a special event. Taking the time to pull staff members aside and thank them for their efforts can go a long way in keeping your team motivated.
If you want to congratulate your whole team, sometimes it can be better to congratulate them before a meeting. Your appreciation can be specific, or a general pat on the back to everyone. While a simple ‘thank you’ costs nothing, it’s always appreciated and can make a big difference to team morale.
4. Establish a tradition
Celebrations are important and enjoyed by everyone, so traditions that reward success are always successful. A tradition can be grand like an end-of-year party or as simple as Friday night drinks, but the aim should be to build trustworthy and family-like relationships within your business.
Traditions are something everyone can look forward to and participate in. Having traditions within your small business will help build loyalty and camaraderie. If you can create a tradition that celebrates wins, it will go a long way to ensuring continued success.
5. Create personalised perks
Perks and benefits are something businesses often offer from the outset, but their effectiveness can be hit and miss. Find out how your employees would like to celebrate success and take it into consideration. Tailoring perks to a team or an individual’s preferences is a great way to show your appreciation and keep employees motivated.
6. Plan an experience
If you and your employees are too busy to find the time or motivation to do something outside work hours, then planning an experience can be rewarding. Not only is it a way to celebrate but, again, it will help your team take some time off to relax and build relationships outside of work.
7. Time out
Sometimes the best way to celebrate success is to simply take some time off to chill out, recharge and look back at how far you have come. Reward yourself by taking the day off and enjoying some ‘me’ time. Even allowing your staff to head home a few hours early one day will be greatly appreciated. Just make sure they understand that this is because of all their recent hard work. Tell them to come back refreshed and ready to smash out the next project.
With our busy and hectic lifestyles, it can be difficult to stop and celebrate our successes and triumphs. Celebrating is important for recognition, motivation and appreciation. Whether it’s you who needs to celebrate, or your entire team, remember to say thank you, take some time out and do something enjoyable.
Author Bio:
Laura Martins is a content manager for RateCity, where you can make smarter financial decisions and compare thousands of financial options. In her time away from RateCity, Laura loves reading about tech and spending time with her dogs.
