How do you show appreciation?

By:  Lori T. Williams, Owner/Managing Attorney of Your Legal Resource, PLLC

I always enjoy this time of year, because I get to carve out time with friends, family, and business associates and show my appreciation.  Of course, I do this throughout the year as well, but I do more of it between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, because our culture has created an atmosphere of giving.

Since I have a small immediate family, I don’t have a huge list of people to shop for.  I get excited about making my list of business associates who I want to acknowledge with a small token of appreciation.  I think about what they’d like to have, make my purchases, and schedule a time to personally deliver it to them or mail it to them.  While I’m busy doing that, I get surprised with deliveries at my door from other business associates who wanted to thank me for my referrals and support. It’s so much fun unpacking the gift baskets and sharing it with my family and friends.

Another tradition this time of year is my annual newsletter that goes out to family and friends, including those who don’t live in the area. It’s our way of catching up with one another.  My newsletter is sort of a year in review, sharing the highlights of what occurred and what we are grateful for, both personally and professionally. I don’t force my newsletter upon my business network, but am happy to share with anyone who asks me to send them a copy.  Many of you have heard bits and pieces of our year on Facebook.

What are some of your favorite ways to show appreciation this time of year, and to stay connected to those important to you?

A few of my business owner friends have shared the following ideas over the years:  

(Be sure to follow the business etiquette and regulations of your industry, as well as the tax laws before applying any of these suggestions):

1.  Handwritten Notes:

It’s so easy to send a text, email, or leave a voicemail.  Who bothers to take the time to hand write a note anymore?

Those who take the time to send a note are often acknowledged by the receiver of their note. It may seem odd to thank someone for writing a thank you note, but it happens to me regularly.  Whether or not you are acknowledged for it, it’s a good idea to take time to acknowledge the other person for what they did for you or what you appreciate about them.  That goes for employees, clients, referral partners, and people in your network.

Drop them a note after a meeting, thank them for a referral, sum up your gratitude for what they’ve done for you all year with a nice greeting card. Whatever seems to suit your style and the occasion, write a note to the ones you want to acknowledge.

2.   Charitable Donation:

Some businesses are precluded from receiving anything that might resemble a gift.  Whether the item is a meal, tickets to an event, or a small token of appreciation like a $5 gift card to the local coffee shop, all are precluded in certain business based on corporate policy.  Rather than place someone in an awkward position of having to return the gift, some professionals have chosen to make a charitable donation in the name of that person.  The charity could be a favorite of the person named, or the person who provided the charitable gift.

Some online resources for making charitable gifts and letting the gift recipient choose the charity include:

www.globalgiving.org

www.givingnote.org

3.  Have fun together:

This might mean hosting a party at your company and inviting clients or referral partners.  Some call these client appreciation events.  It could be an event at your workplace, or elsewhere like a baseball game, Art Museum, or Theatre.

Other businesses schedule family oriented activities for their clients and other guests to bring their families and have fun together. One of my networking buddies works for a company who has rented out the Emagine Theatre and she is honoring her clients and friends with free tickets to see The Hobbit.  I’ll be enjoying a private viewing of the movie with my sons, courtesy of my friend.

Another business owner friend of mine likes to treat her staff to free chair massages in the middle of the work day, and they LOVE it!!!

4.  Small tokens of appreciation:

When gifts aren’t taboo in the industry of the gift giver or receiver, some business owners provide:

• Gift cards
• Books
• Coffee/tea
• Wine
• Popcorn
• Cookies
• Baskets of goodies
• Homemade baked goods/home grown herbs, etc.

The key point emphasized here was: ‘Know your gift recipient’!

You don’t want to give wine to someone that doesn’t drink alcohol, or coffee to a tea drinker.  Find out ahead of time if they like sports, sweets, movies, events, etc.

5.  Other suggestions for showing appreciation:

• Taking a client or referral partner out to lunch or to their favorite sporting event.

• Offer a personalized gift for a special occasion, such as a first home purchase, a wedding, or a baby.  Be sure to include a handwritten note extending your sentiments.

• Birthday acknowledgements on Facebook to your network is a FREE gesture with a minimal time commitment, which is appreciated by the birthday greeting recipient.

• Some coaching professionals offer a complimentary coaching session for clients on their birthday.

• Another professional enjoys providing bagels at client meetings (the good kind from an authentic Jewish Deli!)

• Other professionals patronize their client’s business and purchase a product or service and tell their network about it.

• A CPA I know offers discounts on his client’s tax return, when they refer him new business.

• Another simple gesture is to take time to call and thank them for a referral and let them know if/when it turns into business.

However you choose to acknowledge your clients, referral partners, or employees, the bottom line is “Just Do It!” Abundance begins with gratitude!

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Lori T. Williams is a 23 year attorney based in Birmingham, MI. She owns a legal referral and legal consulting business called Your Legal Resource, PLLC. She assists individuals and small businesses in need of legal advice or representation by connecting them with the right legal specialist for their situation. She also provides consulting services for attorneys and other professional service providers on how to generate more business through effective branding, marketing, networking, and by creating strategic partnerships. For more information, visit www.bestlegalresource.com.

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