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If you’ve had the pedal to the medal, pushing hard to make sales quotas, budget projections and production schedules, we urge you to take a break for a bit of nonsense and about laughter. If you need another excuse, do it for your mother.

But we must point out that while fun and games can boost all of the above, it can be just like a sugar high, ready for a crash.

The foundation of good morale and productivity is hiring the right people. Yes – don’t hire grumps. And the people must have clear roles, responsibities, expectations and goals. And they must receive training and coaching which includes feedback, direction, support and recognition from a trusted manager or coach.

If these aren’t in place, this article is NOT for you. If they ARE in place, I encourage you to put this quote to work every now and then.

Our calendar shows several September only opportunities for doing this.  Details on a few of these are below.

In some cases, you may feel like a fool. Your teammates may roll their eyes. But they will laugh too. And that will lighten the load, break the tension and maybe even bring people closer together. Not just today – but down the road as they think about or talk about the day that ___________ (fill in the blank).

1. September 6 is Fight Procrastination Day. For a staff meeting activity: Ask everyone to make a list of things they’ve been procrastinating – at home and at work. Next – ask them to mark the top 3 items on the list. The things that are absolutely the most important. The things that would make a big difference in their work and lives. Now challenge them to get the first one done during the first week of September. Have everyone report progress at your staff meeting the following week. Have prizes ready for all who won the Procrastination battle. Note: See #2 for prize idea.

2. September 13 is Milton Hersey’s Birthday. Great excuse to eat chocolate. Also great prize idea for all who beat Procrastination! (see #1)
3. September 15 is Thank You Day. See #7 in 10 Tips for Showing Appreciation.

4. September 22 is Elephant Appreciation Day.

You can celebrate this one in a number of ways.

You could:

• put out a huge bowl of peanuts in the shell
• talk about cool qualities of elephants
• make elephant noises
• or experienced and confident leaders may want to use it and this Quote of the Week as an opportunity to launch a discussion about the elephants in the room.

What is it that people in your office are scared to bring up?

Remember that even baby elephants take up lots of room and resources.

Wouldn’t you rather those resources be used to help you and your team make your goals?

People might be to scared to say it out loud.  Here are a few ideas to help with that:

• offer a bag of peanuts (in the shell) to anyone who is willing to introduce an elephant in the room
• ask everyone to write down any elephants they “see” in the room, collect the slips of paper and read them out loud
• divide into small groups for discussion and ask each group to introduce at least one elephant

What then?  As each elephant is introduced, say, “Nice to meet you.”

What then?  It depends on the elephant and how much you know about it.

• It may be that an introduction is all that’s needed.
• If you aren’t sure, you might say, “How may I help you today?”
• Or if you know nothing about this particular elephant, perhaps you say,  “Tell me a bit about yourself.”
• Try to take care of each elephant right away.
• If additional information is needed before taking care of an elephant, say so, say who will do it in time for the next staff meeting.

 

5. September 23 is the First Day of Fall. It’s a new season. Time to start fresh. Launch a team discussion on what people want to do differently in the new season.

6. September 23 is Innergize Day. This holiday is about encouraging people to do things for themselves – things they never do for themselves due to lack of time. Can you give everyone a half day off to do whatever they want?

7. The entire month of September is Jazz Month. It’s also Classical Music Month. And Southern Gospel Music Month. Can you play music in the office this month? Or play it at the start of each staff meeting? Or during another fun September office event? Also – take a look at the 60 Minutes program from August 28 that featured Gospel for Teens. It is INSPIRING. Could be a powerful management team exercise…to watch it…and observe the way the leaders and members of this team learn, interact and group. Here is a link to Part 1 and Part 2.

8. September is Apple Month. Pass out apples at a staff meeting. Have a pot luck apple lunch to which everyone brings his/her favorite food made with apples.

9. It’s also Chicken Month. Have a pot luck apple lunch to which everyone brings his/her favorite food made with chicken. Or play chicken. Challenge each rep to call a prospect that he or she is chicken to call. And ask them to bring stories about the results.

10. Wild Card! Ask each person on your team to bring in an idea of something to boost team morale and productivity.

Warning – Before you begin, re-read paragraphs 1 and 2.

 

September-Only Marketing Ideas

In addition to the start of football season (see ideas posted earlier today) , there are many opportunities to heat things up in the revenue department. A potential side benefit internally…a boost to morale and productivity. All good for bottom line performance.

September is:

How can you use these occasions to boost business?

If you sell any of these or related products:

If you don’t sell any of these or related products, you can still be involved by doing things like:

1. Give out ice cream sandwiches in celebration of Ice Cream Day.
2. Give out watermelon slices in celebration of Watermelon Day.
3. Give a discount or extra discount to Senior Citizens on Senior Citizens Day.
4. Have a special Dollar Day Sale.

If you sell advertising…be sure to contact your clients with ideas on how to celebrate these June occasions. They may not accept all your ideas but they will appreciate your creativity and commitment to bringing them results. You’ll be delivering added value and setting yourself apart from the competition.

There you have it! A month of marketing opportunities! Make it fun and see some serious results.

If you put any of these ideas to work this month, share your story and photos with Business Class Inc. We’ll post them for everyone to see just how your business boosted morale, productivity and maybe even the bottom line!

Note: These are fun things to celebrate with your staff as well. Also see 10 Morale & Productivity Boosting Ideas for July Only.

Related Articles

• Quote of the Week: Think it’s foolish?
• Spur-of-the-Moment Nonsense
• Movie of the Week – Patch Adams

Link to other months of the year

 

 

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