The Art Of Increasing sALES: EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION & CONNECTION

I have been having fun with art since a child and the reason I kept at it may have been because of the praise I received from teachers, family and peers.
When I started taking dance lessons as an adult I seemed to feel the same joy. I was going through some pretty traumatic personal stuff and yet when I was out dancing I was feeling "the love."

I discovered it was a chemical reaction in my brain!! I wasn't a natural but I was 'hooked on a feeling' and I became better through motivation to practice, and the connections I made with others in the dance community.

I began to research how my Austin-based mobile paint and sip party company (Laugh A Lot) could help encourage corporations to help their employees feel more engaged and connected with their peers through creative team building and employee recognition events.

So here's some scientific proof...

New Research Unlocks the Secret
​of Employee Recognition
​According to an article in FORBES by Josh Bersin
How Hormones Play A Role:
Oxytocin is the well-known "love hormone." Our bodies create Oxytocin when we feel loved or appreciated (even shaking someone's hand or giving them a hug creates this hormone). Recent research shows that people who work under the influence of Oxytocin perform better and are more trustworthy at work.
When your company embraces a modern recognition program and people start thanking each other, trust and engagement go up - improving employee morale, quality, and customer service.
Of course recognition does not replace the need for feedback, accountability, and goal-setting. These performance management programs are still badly needed to drive alignment and performance. But our research definitely shows that in 83% of the organizations we studied suffer from a deficit in "recognition." And these companies are under-performing their peers.
Oh, one more thing. Recognition is not only something executives should do - it should take place throughout the organization. The research clearly shows that top-down recognition is not what makes companies thrive today - it's recognition by your peers, the people you work with every day.

Not so new research...
The Psychology of Recognition
In Maslow's heirarchy of needs, two of the most valuable psychological needs we have as human beings are the need to be appreciated and the need to "belong." These needs are met through peer-to-peer thanks and recognition. Look at the hierarchy below: you can see the compensation and benefits support a fundamental need, but recognition and career advancement support our higher-level psychological needs.
Remember that the purpose of recognition is to drive greater levels of "discretionary effort." Such discretionary effort comes when we, as people, feel inspired to do more.  
Next time you see someone doing the right thing, take a minute and thank them openly.
It's good management and good business.
​

Just a simple art activity brings two co-workers together, through shared silliness at an employee recognition happy hour event called ROCK THOUGHTS held at VUKA Co-Working Space Downtown Austin. -Laugh A Lot Mobile Art Events

HAPPY EMPLOYEES - BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE - HIGHER SALES