It’s the busiest shopping time of year, so your service staff is working hard. Even if you regularly tell your team members how much you appreciate them, they won’t hear it unless you show them.

There are more than a few ways that you can help energize and support your service staff during this bustling time. But we’ve gathered up five of the best approaches that have worked for managers and business leaders time and time again.

1. Custom Patches

It sounds like something small, but we assure you that great things come in small packages. Empowering your service staff to customize their appearance with custom patches can boost morale by giving them more control.

It works even if your staff wears a uniform. Uniforms have proven benefits, and 50% of businesses employ them. But for workers who want to express their individuality, giving them the power with something subtle but creative is a great idea.

2. Weekly or Bi-Monthly Meetings

Communication is key to every thriving workplace. So much so that research has shown that faulty communication is a primary inhibitor of productivity and success in business.

If your staff is fighting or being insubordinate toward management, and if customers are complaining that they seem sad and combative, chances are they don’t feel heard. You can change that easily by instituting regular staff meetings.

Staff meetings are crucial for many reasons: clarifying shared goals, hashing out conflict, and ensuring everyone feels heard and supported. That last one is extra important. Giving your service staff the space to speak and showing them you listen will work wonders for morale and energy.

3. Post-Work Bonding

If the problem seems to be that your service staff haven’t bonded enough among themselves, encourage them to bond outside of work. That will promote lasting relationships that will strengthen the way they work together.

But here’s one important tip: don’t go with them. No one likes a boss that tries to be friends with their employees. Trust us. They’ll adore you if you back away and simply treat them well. But if you try to be their friend, a whole host of things could go wrong!

4. Flexibility for Time Off Requests

You should encourage your staff to take meaningful time off, not just reluctantly grant their requests. Of course, there are limits to generosity, and work should come as a priority. But no one on staff should feel like asking for time off to go to the doctor or pick up their kids is asking for the world.

5. Gamify Important Tasks

For more complex tasks that no one will willingly take on themselves, inject some fun and competition to get people excited. “Gamify” essential tasks by making them a competition over who can sell the most product or get the most customers to leave positive reviews.

Treat Employees Like Human Beings

You don’t have to treat them like your family or friends. Because guess what? They aren’t! Don’t force any false warmth or closeness onto your employees – just remember they are human beings and treat them with the respect and decency they deserve.