Crew Appreciation

We are in the thick of the holiday season, with parties and office treats threatening our daily willpower.

During this time of year, employers and team leads go out of their way to make sure employees know how appreciated they are. But why limit that praise and appreciation to just one time a year? Here are some tips to ensure your crew members know they’re valued by continuing to show your appreciation every season.

Say Thank You

One of the simpler ways to let crew members know they’re appreciated is saying thank you. Whether it’s because they went above and beyond on the field that day or they’re someone who always shows up with a smile on their face. Saying thank you at the end of the day shows them you recognize their efforts. John Clintsman is head of grounds for Ensworth School District and he commented that he never knows how to show his crew enough appreciation but he starts with thank you. “I try daily to say good work and thank you, especially on the tougher days. Weekly, I make sure to send a quick text saying thank you or point out something they did well if I didn’t get the chance to say it in person.”

I try daily to say good work and thank you, especially on the tougher days. Weekly, I make sure to send a quick text saying thank you or point out something they did well if I didn’t get the chance to say it in person.”

-John Clintsman, Head of Grounds for Ensworth School District

Allow Them to Learn

Always be giving your crew opportunities to further their knowledge base. Encourage them to ask questions when you’re demonstrating a technique and offer them chances to try new things. By investing in your crew members education, you demonstrate that you believe in their potential and their spot on the team. Look for conferences or local field days that you can send crew members to when they’re interested in learning something new.

Trust Them

Trust employees to make the right decisions and do excellent work. It’s difficult for crew members to feel valued when they sense you second guessing every suggestion they make or standing over them as they set out to work on a project. Colin Delorey, ballfields foreman for the town of Barnstable, MA says, “I have the pleasure of working alongside Rik Sussan and I really think one of the best things I can do to show my team members I appreciate their hard work is allowing them to run machines. Allow them to get the feel of the sandpro while grooming the infield. There is no substitute for experience and they get a lot of gratification from what they’re able to achieve. At the end of the day if you trust your employees and they get something out of it, it’s less for you to worry about and it’s what keeps them coming back day after day.”

Encourage Feedback

Show crew members you appreciate them by letting them know you value their opinions and experiences. Encourage employees to engage in meetings and decision processes. Also, allow them to offer their feedback to problems the team may be experiencing on the field. By listening and encouraging feedback from crew members you not only show them appreciation for their role on your team but you make your job easier by allowing others to own part of the decision making.

Celebrate Milestones

Don’t allow a crew member’s milestone or anniversary go unnoticed. Even if it’s saying thanks for all your dedication to the team or taking them to lunch, acknowledging their accomplishment will go a long way in showing them they’re appreciated.

While the holidays are a great time to reflect on and appreciate your crew, don’t let the gratitude stop there. Utilize these tips to show crew members they’re appreciated all year long!