Cut A Meeting, Cut Morale

My wife just returned from an incentive trip that my mother-in-law won for outstanding sales production for 2008. The event was held at a resort in St. Thomas and it was a nice opportunity for them to reconnect again and enjoy one another in a relaxing environment. As most of the costs for the trip were absorbed by the company, they felt more comfortable shopping and contributing to the local tourism economy–at least that’s the excuse I was given.

During a difficult year, my mother-in-law was still able to produce great revenue for her company.  She celebrated with 81 other sales reps the success resulting from hard work and perseverance.  What would happen if my mother-in-law would have been told that the meeting had been cancelled after her participation for the last 20-plus years? How would she react? 

Here is a 30-second clip of the view from their room. Does this motivate you to want to produce so you can experience something as beautiful again during next year’s trip?

Directly from a colleague’s comments: "We are beginning to hear that the cancellations of programs in late 2008 and 2009 have caused a drop in morale for many organizations. Those forward-thinking companies are aggressively working to get programs back on the books for 2010 and beyond. Once the hiring pace picks up, top tier employees may seek other opportunities if aggressive efforts are not exerted to show loyalty and recognition."

May I suggest that you consider using this stance to encourage your customers to book those meeting now as it directly will affect the quality and motivation of your workforce in the future.