Love You. Mean it.

I'm just back from last week's incredible SAAC Show, and worked it not only as Halo's Western regional vice president but also as a SAAC board member, as the SAACTimes newsletter editor and as The Voice of SAAC. As such, I spent a lot time in the SAAC Show management office and a lot of time watching a pretty incredible team working with SAAC executive director Nancy Phillips to put over an amazing, successful, fun and warm show.

It got me thinking about those great people in the office—the backbone of the show—and an article I wrote years ago for now-defunct Corporate Logo Magazine about appreciating the important staffers all around us. Here, for your edification and elucidation, is that article:

Within most promotional products companies, be they distributors or suppliers, the most celebrated team members are usually those in sales. They are the ones who bring in the business, who make the most money and they are—in fact—the ones around whom the actual universe revolves. It's easy for management to focus on motivating and recognizing the Sales Superstars. Regretfully, it's also easy to neglect the teammates behind them-the ever-toiling faithful staff.

Think about the personality of your company. Be honest. Is it a dynamic, action-packed, laugh-riot of a place to work? Or is it a stressful and strained and rife with conflict? Do your employees consider their coworkers and management as family ... or is it just a place to earn a paycheck and race out the door at 4:59 PM?

In challenging times like these (boy, that never changes!) building a better workplace for your employees is more important than ever. The most productive way to accomplish this is to utilize employee appreciation techniques. We should practice what we preach and use the very tools we're selling to our client, right? Tools such as recognition programs, years-of-service pins, annual employee awards, holiday gifts, employee—retention programs and the like are important and appreciated. It's what we do.