(Time to read this Blog is about 2½ minutes)
Before we get to the main topic, here are a few things to get you thinking:
- My biz quote of the week:
“If people don’t want to grow themselves…they probably don’t want to help you grow your business. They’re just not into growth. They’re holding you back…and you need to deal with them.”
…Donald Cooper.
- Wishing you a most ‘Happy Holiday’ of your choice! It’s been a tough year for all of us, but let’s take a little time to be thankful for our blessings and to be kind, respectful and helpful to those around us. Wishing you an extraordinary 2021.
When I can be helpful in making that happen in your business, I’m easy to find at donald@donaldcooper.com.
- Our next ‘straight talk’ Management Blog will be January 6th: We’re taking a ‘Blog Break’ until January 6th, but I’ll be busy creating a series of 1-hour video seminars featuring our most requested topics and bottom-line management insights. These will be available in February 2021.
Now, to this week’s important topic:
The incredible power of ‘Joy’!
One of the most popular of all Christmas carols starts with the words, “Joy to the world”. This is a concept that’s way too important to be on our lips and in our hearts for only 3 weeks each year. The world, and everyone in it, needs ‘joy’ all year long.
Whatever you sell, people come to you for that…plus joy. They want groceries…plus joy. Financial services…plus joy. Auto parts…plus joy. A new TV…plus joy! And, as ‘goofy’ as it may sound, in a market that’s as crowded and overserved as yours, with way too many other people selling the same ‘stuff’ at about the same price, ‘joy’ could be your differentiating factor…your sustainable competitive advantage!
How do we deliver joy in business? We add it to every transaction, every touch point. Think of the people that you most enjoy doing business with and I bet you that they all add joy to every transaction. I immediately think of Renatta at our local Post Office. We go out of our way to give her all of our postage business. She is kind, knowledgeable, efficient and enthusiastic. She knows her stuff and she loves her job. Renatta honours every customer and makes a special fuss over her ‘regulars’. She is ‘joyful’…and it’s contagious!
So, make a list every customer touch point in your business and, with the help of some of the best minds and hearts in your business, figure out how you can add some joy to each of them. I’d love to hear some of your ‘joyful ideas’. You can email me at donald@donaldcooper.com.
#1: First off, joy begins with you. You are the source of joy and energy in your business, or your department. If the lights are out on the front porch of your life, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll brighten the way for anyone else.
Do the people who work for you get up every morning, get dressed, have breakfast, hug their loved ones and say, “I’m off to fun now!” as they go out the door? By the way, ‘fun’ is something that we have while working…not something that we do instead of working. Some folks get that one mixed up.
Clive Bedoe, the former CEO of Canada’s West Jet Airlines used to tell his employees, “If you’re not having fun…you’re fired!” Clive knew that our customers are never having more fun than we are.
#2. Next, hire joyful people. Bless you if you think that you can take sad, small-hearted people and somehow transform them into joyful people. That happens in Disney movies, but hardly ever in real life. So, hire people who are joyful by nature, and keep them that way (see point #3 below).
Sandra Wilson, founder of children’s footwear manufacturer Robeez Footwear in British Columbia, Canada, used to tell prospective employees, “If you’re not prepared to do the chicken dance, you can’t join our company.” In other words, she doesn’t want staff who can’t or won’t be joyful. By creating a culture of joy, Sandra reduced staff turnover by 50% while growing the business to the point where she sold it for over $30 million.
#3: Finally, create rituals of joy. Encourage joyfulness. Create celebrations, contests, rewards, events and activities throughout the year that energize, uplift and encourage. At Robeez Footwear, Sandra Wilson didn’t just ask prospective employees if they’d be willing to do the chicken dance, they actually played the chicken dance song every day at break time…and people git up and danced! It was a ritual of joy.
Take a calendar and mark on it each day of the year that you could do something joyful…and then do it! And how about a “Thank you” every day to every person on your Team? “Thank you” is an expression of appreciation that creates joy and engagement.
So, what will you do to create a culture of joy and celebration that will make your business or department more joyful for your Team, for your customers…and for yourself?
That’s it for this week…
Stay safe…live brilliantly…and do at least 3 important or kind things each day!
Donald Cooper
Donald Cooper speaks and coaches internationally on management, marketing, and profitability. He can be reached by email at donald@donaldcooper.com in Toronto, Canada.
