Employees as Ambassadors

“A workforce of owner-minded employees will often go beyond expectations for the sake of the business’s objectives.”  Create a culture of employees as ambassadors of your business. 

Create Employee Buy-In

Owners do not have enough time to do everything alone, nor should they.  Just as owners are responsible for setting the example of authentic caring for customers and employees, they are also responsible for creating a culture where employees constantly portray this caring attitude to each other and to customers. 

Radio Flyer, a Chicago-based children’s toy company initiated a “Connect-the-Dots” program to encourage employees to work with each other and to connect the individual employees to the values, mission and goals of the company.   A survey proved that 94 percent of employees reported a willingness to give more than is expected of them and 93 percent say they can count on each other to cooperate.  This attitude of cooperation then extends out to customer service.

Employee incentive programs as well as team recognitions increase employee buy-in to the company mission and goals.  Encouraging cross functional teams adds to the camaraderie and employee buy-in.

Employee Motivation

Not every employee will be motivated by the same incentive.  Take the time to learn what is important to each employee.  Just the fact that you asked them starts the process moving in a positive direction.

Time off to spend a day with the kids could be a powerful motivator for a single parent.  Imagine the luxury of going to the park with your child or having the time to decorate holiday cookies together, 

A bonus could be the incentive for the parent of a college student.  Education is so valuable, but it comes with a high price tag.  Money could be a stress release for a financially strapped parent.

A company recognition plaque could thrill and motivate a team player who needed or wanted acknowledgement for their extra efforts.  Sales achievements are frequently recognized, but what about exceptional customer service or a special acknowledgement for the less visible sections of the company such as accounting or maintenance.

Award catalogs where an employee can select a gift in a certain price range for their birthday or for an extra thank-you for a special job is always a perk. 

Making the extra effort to say ‘good morning” or to stop by the desk to say “how are you doing today?” can put a sparkle in an employee’s day.

When a project came in on time and under budget, giving an extra appreciation in some way enhances the employee’s buy-in and desire to improve performance.

Why is Employee Buy-In Important?

Your company impression can be formed by the first person a potential customer sees or speaks with as they step into your reception area.  If it is the gum chewing, disinterested, applying nail polish and chatting on the phone receptionist of the cartoons, you are in trouble no matter how plush your waiting room décor.   Be a real professional all of the time.  You never know who knows whom in this connected world.  Everyone is connected to everyone else by six degrees of separation.  Take every customer and every encounter seriously. 

Darren LaCroix, 2001 world champion of public speaking considers himself “on duty for the client” from the time he arrives at the airport to depart for his speaking engagement.  His buy-in to provide the best impression for the client company is solid.

Help Employees Display Their Buy-In

Business cards are not only a status symbol but also a popular communication reminder.  Allowing employees to create their own individual business cards, within company parameters, with the new Print Place.com business card design templates would be fun and demonstrate a higher level of status within the company.  This could be a significant perk to increase employee buy-in.

Providing employees with company brochures or company bookmarks to distribute would assist them in being ambassadors to spread the good name of the company. 

United Airlines announced a major advertising campaign stating that they were the “world’s largest airline and the largest employee-owned company. United took the idea of owner-minded employees to a new level. 

How can you enhance your employee buy-in to make your employees ambassadors for your company?