Giving Thanks

Originally published 11/18/07

Are you thankful?

I have this funny feeling that we’re going to hear a lot this week about being thankful. I’m certainly thankful for many things. I’m thankful, of course, for my family and friends.

I’m also thankful that my wife and I both hate to shop. And I’m thankful that my kids have low expectations when it comes to Christmas gifts. I’ve convinced them that overloading Santa’s sleigh requires more fuel, which contributes to global warming.

But I’d like to ask business owners and organizational leaders if you’re thankful for the work done by your employees. If so, do they know it?

In 2004, the J.M. Smucker company was named by Fortune Magazine as the Best Company to Work For. Yes, J.M. Smucker is that glamorous high-tech company that makes jelly in Orrville, Ohio (population 9,000).

Founded in 1897, the company has expanded into a few more products and brands. In 2006, they sold over two billion dollars worth of jelly, peanut butter, and baking mixes.

So what makes J.M. Smucker a great place to work? They don’t offer pet insurance or free massages like Google. They don’t have artists on staff to personally decorate employee offices like SAS. Their employees don’t even get a fifteen percent discount at the TTU bookstore like I get (except for computer software and sale items).

J.M. Smucker wasn’t chosen as a great place to work because of their benefits. Instead, they were chosen because of the culture created by the founder’s great-grandsons and co-CEOs, Tim and Richard Smucker.

Before their father died, he wrote down four principles that he said should be used to lead the company. Thank others for a job well done. Look for the good in others. Listen with your full attention. And keep a sense of humor.

When Fortune surveyed Smucker employees, the feature that stood out the most was how often employees felt appreciated. Employees are thanked with gift cards, meals, holiday turkeys, and other small tokens.

The employees report that it’s not the value of the gift that matters. What matters is that someone noticed they were doing a good job and took time to recognize it.

In other words, being thankful for their employees landed J.M. Smucker at the top of the list of best companies to work for.

My columns are usually aimed at organizational leaders and I could probably stop here. But I also think it’s worth pointing out that employees have much to be thankful for as well.

As much as you may hate to admit it, your employer is your customer. They are buying your labor. There are over six billion people on the planet, but your employer decided to buy your services.

Most businesses are thankful for their customers and will bend over backwards to make them satisfied. Is that the way you think about your employer? Are you willing to go the extra mile to keep your customer happy?

I admit it’s a hard concept to grasp, but look at all of the companies choosing to shop for labor in other countries. I’m in the same boat. I teach courses that could easily be outsourced to professors in India or Mexico. But I’m thankful that my employer has decided to buy from me.

Whether you’re an employee or an employer, this week would be a good time to say “Thanks!”