Grateful for Soup
When Douglas Conant became CEO of Campbell Soup Company in 2001, the company was financially failing.
However, by the time he left in 2011, Campbell Soup was reestablished financially and doing well. How did Douglas Conant achieve such success?
The answer: he wrote ‘thank you’ notes. In the span of his career with Campbell, it is estimated that Douglas sent over 30,000 handwritten ‘thank you’ notes to employees and customers. He wrote these notes by hand himself, not over text or email, but with pen and paper.
When interviewed, Douglas says that he “made it personal” for himself and others.
Another interesting fact is that at the time, Campbell only had 20,000 employees. This means that each employee received their own hand-written letter of gratitude from the CEO of the company.
This expression of gratitude for each and every employee fostered a sense of trust between employers and employees. Furthermore, it improved the culture to such a point that it was awarded Gallup’s “Great Workplace Award.”
Sending a personal thank you to each employee and high-impact customers-built bonds of trust and a greater sense of community in the workplace. This daily practice of gratitude inspired greatness in employees and has established Campbell Soup Company as an international household name.
This is what every company should strive for and as an employee you should strive for this kind if a workplace. But here's the unfortunate truth. It's not happening or going to happen.
So how do we handle this?
Quit our jobs? (no)
Bitch and complain until we get our way? (no)
Start doing a horrible job until they respect us? (no)
How about this?
If you really don't feel appreciated at your job, then maybe it's time to move on. (Instead of living life feeling stuck)
If all you're doing is complaining, then you're only hurting yourself. Start paying attention to the conversations you have with yourself.
Start doing something that you respect for yourself. You're worth it, you deserve it.