Despite difficulties, much to be thankful for this season

It’s October, the time for harvest and for preparing for a strong fourth quarter. The year 2020 has been a different year for all of our organizations. Therefore, the harvest this year might require a different view of the harvest and associated feasts.

The harvest this year may not be a bountiful financial harvest for many. Instead, you can be thankful that the hard work by you and your team are positioning you for tomorrow. The journey continues.

Let’s be clear with one another: the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are still

with us. There is uncertainty as to what form our new economy will take as we continue to morph to accommodate customer and team safety, supply chain considerations and customer preferences.

As we all continue to grapple with uncertainty on multiple levels, there is an opportunity to take a look at what you can harvest from this year. For example, most restaurants will now place a premium on their takeout offerings and ordering processes.

Take a moment to appreciate your customers. Thank them for their continued support. I know of one restaurant that gave its best clients a certificate for 15 percent off their next purchase, as a way of saying “thank you” and showing appreciation for those who supported the business during the spring and early summer. The next level might be for the restaurant to obtain contact information from their best customers so that they can reach out to them like the big chains do with their apps.

I am a proponent of appreciating your vendor customers. I believe there are many stories of vendor and delivery personnel going above and beyond to make sure critical items were available to your operations. A bit of recognition and appreciation can go a long way. I like gift cards, especially coffee

gift cards, as a small recognition of a job well done. You might even be able to put your logo on the gift cards.

Above all, don’t forget your team members who were with you throughout the journey. We have been required to balance personal and professional lives with as many variations as there are team members. Find a way to celebrate what you have been through together and individually. Again, a gift card is always a good token of appreciation. The journey is not over.

But go beyond the quick “thank you.” Engage your team with their stories of how they worked though the spring and summer. There could be innovative ideas that could be applicable to your organization. Getting their ideas about what might work in your environment might give you a competitive edge in the future.

Consider the innovations you have adapted to in the past six to eight months as a harvest. So, too, are your team members and vendors who were with you every step of the way.

Cornell Wright is the author of “31 Coffee Breaks to a Better Organization,” a trainer and consultant at The Parker Wright Group Inc. in Stratford. The firm strengthens clients’ team development in pursuit of customer service strategies and processes and is a Certified Partner of Predictive Index. He can be reached at 203-377-4226 or cornell@parkerwrightgroup.com.