Cultivating Appreciation

In my life, I have attended many parties, and have thrown or helped throw many more. The ones that have truly fun and stuck out in my memory have ranged from quiet and modest to loud and lavish, but all have the same common thread running through them: I felt that every guest there, myself included, was very welcomed and encouraged to have a good time. Making everyone feel comfortable, welcome and accepted is an easy thing to do. It doesn't always happen because it takes either a lot of work, or a good deal of planning to make a party where every guest feels like they're the guest of honor. When I'm planning a function, I try to stay focused on "Cultivating Appreciation."

Well, what does that even mean? I'm glad you asked that question. Cultivating appreciation means asking, "what would my guests actually like to do at this event?" What do they already like? What little touches can I add that will give the gathering some focal point, some pizazz? If I'm having food, is there enough variety so that everyone invited can eat some of it? Is anyone attending afraid of ponies, or perhaps guacamole? These questions can be answered quite easily if you are having an event with several of your close friends; less easily if your invite list grows to an extended network of friends and acquaintances. But, when you're hosting something for coworkers or employees, finding something that makes everyone happy, and cultivates appreciation, can be quite the challenge. Since there are already quite a few books websites and shows dedicated to throwing parties at home, and since Elemental Catering caters only to businesses, I'm going to share my thoughts on that latter-type of party.

If you have decided to do something nice for your staff to say "thanks for your hard work" or "thanks for not testifying against the company," or any kind of more special event, then a regular office function should be out of the question. The same old is the same. It's old. No one's hard work should ever be rewarded with something they get all the time. If your intention is to truly show appreciation, appreciation that will help your staff enjoy their jobs more and help your company run better, then it not only needs to be special, it needs to be thoughtful. The more thoughtful a gift you give to your employees, the more they believe your company is where they ought to be working, and the harder they'll work.

Here's an example. A team who I know work together every day, Monday through Friday, from 7am until 4.30. They eat lunch together every day, some of them even eat their breakfasts at work. So when it's time for the "employee appreciation" lunch, I sat down with their boss, who was coordinating this event, and really figured out how to make this lunch different from every other lunch of the year. We brought in fresh flowers, real plates, real silverware, and every team member got to order an individual entree. They knew that each and every one of them was being appreciated for her individual contributions. Not that "the team" was being recognized with a sheet cake or some bagels, but that Sally and Marge and Lisa were being recognized for Sally's and Marge's and Lisa's good jobs. The team didn't have to pick up their break room, or decorate it with the "birthday box" or take care of anything except enjoying themselves.

That's the sort of appreciation that a good event will cultivate.