GiftCard Partners Blog

Team communication is key. The better a team can communicate, even non-verbally, the better that team can work together in any situation. Being able to pick up on signals and non-verbal tendencies can help co-workers in critical situations like client meetings or big presentations. So, how do you expedite your teams bonding and ensure everyone gets to know each other and gets comfortable? Put everyone in an equally uncomfortable position doing a fun(ny) activity like stand-up comedy, improv or karaoke. Get everyone nervous, so their teammates learn their nervous habits. That way when they are in front of the big client and may not have the best answer, their teammates know, seamlessly, to jump in. Creating fun team building activities also helps teammates get to know each other outside the office. It gets everyone loose and talking to each other about something other than work. Building team bonds makes client meetings stronger and the potential for sales and upsells greater.  Improving team communication can translate to improving your bottom line. For more information on how to improve team communication through comedy check out this
video from Inc.com.

Sometimes in the enormity of running a retail operation it's easy forget about the front line employees. These are usually the hourly wage earners who may not be the most senior employees but are the employees who have the most impact on consumer experience and can dictate how loyal your customers are. Here are 3 key components to arm your front line associates with to ensure your consumers expectations are fully met. 1.
Tools. Give store associates the tools they need to be successful. This may mean arming them with a tablet with inventory software or ensuring there is an extra manager on duty during your busiest days to keep things running smoothly. 2.
Technology. In today's ever evolving retail landscape this could mean a number of different things. It could mean having mobile devices on the floor in places where beacons are pushing messages to consumers, or having associates armed with tablets to execute mobile checkouts in areas other than the traditional cash registers. But remember it's not all about having the latest and greatest technologies. Find out what spots are weak or need improving on and the right kinds of gadgets that can help improve these areas to see success. 3.
Training. The most important thing to arm store associates with is knowledge. Equip them with the know-how to handle any situation. This builds confidence and autonomy that is usually more valuable in situational problem solving than any piece of technology or tool.
For more information on how to arm your front line store associates with the three T's and beyond head over to Loyalty360.

Beacon technology has the potential to change the way we all shop. However, there is a "creepy" factor to knowing that stores are tracking your movements around their retail locations. So, some retailers are mixing a human element into beacon technology, and the results are surprisingly pleasant. Some retailers testing out beacons with messaging in either a native app or push messaging are using their employees as part of the beacon experience. Training employees on the beacon messaging and positioning employees in critical areas of the store allows employees to gain extra responsibility while improving the customer experience and removing the intrusive factor that beacons can present. Employee training on cutting edge technology provides professional development opportunities for your workforce and a unique chance for growth in the critical customer service area of your business. Offering small incentives like gift cards to employees who volunteer to step up and receive the training and take on extra responsibility is a great way to reinforce innovation at your organization. Think of beaconing as an opportunity to advance your workforce as well as advancing the technology in your stores. Head over to
MediaPost for more information.

Employee success is more likely to occur and has greater impact when it's shared by a team. Humans are social beings and we work better in groups. The word along the side is not subliminal messaging...it's meant to grab your attention.
Tell employees when they are on the right track. Open communication is key and it should go both ways, make   feedback a 360-degree process.
Everyone's opinion matters. Gather opinions and ideas from all levels of your team. Experience doesn't always mean innovative thinking.
Always reward success. No matter if it's an exceptional job on an individual project or a long career full of exceptional service, giving even small rewards like
gift cards can be highly effective in evoking repeat behavior.
Mix it up! Make sure employee working groups change. The more diverse working environments become, the more kinds of success employees get to experience. Cross-team collaboration is also a great team building exercise. For more information on employee success and how to promote it through team building check out Derek Irvine's
"Recognize This!" blog.    

Encouraging creativity among employees is vital for fostering innovation and driving organizational growth. When employees have the opportunity to express their creativity, it not only enhances individual development but also contributes to a dynamic and vibrant company culture. In this article, we'll explore the importance of employee creativity and provide practical strategies for promoting and harnessing creative potential in the workplace.