Sal Capizzi, Book4Time’s VP of Marketing, and a former Director of Spa and Wellness at NEXUS Luxury Collection, shares his expert insight into your reader questions.
Send your queries about managing staff, operations, and anything else you want to know (challenge him!) to scapizzi@spaexecutive.com
Q. Dear Sal, what are some easy ways to show appreciation for my employees without spending a lot of money?
A. Fabulous question! Times are still tight for a lot of businesses, and you’re probably walking a fine line between managing your P&L and wanting to keep your staff happy so that you can continue growing your business without losing any members of your team.
Here are some great ways that you can show your team appreciation without breaking the bank or upsetting your finance team!
Verbal recognition can go a long way. How many times have you been complimented on a job well done or even your looks (which is also a job well done) and walked away thinking that was really nice of that person to notice my hard work, and it just put you in a better mood for the rest of the day? The same goes for your team! Take a moment during team meetings to individually acknowledge and thank employees for their hard work and contributions. Write personalized thank-you notes expressing your appreciation for specific accomplishments or efforts. Did someone pick up an extra shift? While a client was checking out, did they call out someone’s amazing work? Be sure to communicate all of this to your employees!
Invest in your team within constraints! Most times companies will have an allocated budget for continuing education for their staff. Make sure by the end of the year, every dollar is well spent on your staff that expresses interest in wanting to continue expanding their skillset. Whether it’s required continuing education or a new certification, your staff will appreciate the gesture of not having to come out of their own pocket to invest in their career. You will create longevity on your team if you and your brand continue to invest in your team members.
Focus on WELLNESS! Your team is working just as hard as you are. Treat them to a complementary service at your spa. Let them try a new service that you recently added to the menu. Partner with the General Manager at a local cycling studio to see if you can work out a deal where your team can take a class together during off-peak hours in exchange for the GM getting a treatment at your spa. Get creative with your team-building activities that will ultimately focus on their health, happiness, and wellness!
Spa Executive is published by Book4Time, the leader in guest management, revenue and mobile solutions for the most exclusive spas, hotels, and resorts around the globe. Learn more at book4time.com.
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