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Writing Appreciation Letters Is a Great Learning Exercise

Companies love it when they receive appreciation letters about their employees, their products and the customer service they deliver. If you love what a company or individual has done, write the CEO or president a letter. Then, share that letter with your own employees.

The next meeting with your employees starts out with you saying, “Let me share with you a letter I wrote to one of our vendors….”

Then, share that letter with your own employees. What can be learned from your positive experience? Can you do something similar in your business? Your letter becomes a learning opportunity, supported by an example that you and your employees will be able to relate to.

Now, take it a step further. Give your employees an assignment. Give them two weeks to write an appreciation letter to a business that is outside of your own circle of vendors. This could be a restaurant, airline, cleaners, hair salon, etc. Then have a meeting where everyone shares their great letters. Facilitate discussion around what they really liked about their experience. What created the great experience? Was it a person? Was it the process?

Was it ambiance? What made the experience great? Is there a way to bring that experience back to your company?

This is a great exercise that makes employees really think about the service experience.

Past articles and other information about Shep is available by visiting the websites below.

Shep Hyken, CSP, CPAE
Shepard Presentations, LLC
711 Old Ballas Road, Suite 215
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 692-2200
shep@hyken.com
www.hyken.com
www.TheCustomerFocus.com

Author of "Moments of Magic," “The Loyal Customer" and the Wall Street Journal best selling book “The Cult of the Customer.”

Shep Hyken works with companies who want to build loyal relationships with their customers and employees.