This week I was approached by one of my dear friends who serves as a principal for a local Early Childhood Center (PS-2^nd Grade). His requested deliverable: monthly staff appreciation ideas for 40 teachers and staff with some money to spend, but not a ton. Challenge accepted.

As I formulated the plan for him, I thought about our customers in the K12 sector and how many of them must be facing the same 2015-2016 school year appreciation ideas blank stare. Well, good news! I’ve outlined a pretty fantastic teacher and staff appreciation plan for you – balanced with both cost and no-cost ideas!

Are you looking to spread positive mojo in your office? We've put together 7 quick and easy ways to take your mediocre office culture and turn it into a positive place to be!

When we developed our Team Shirts™ product line, we hoped to partner with our customers to fulfill their special event apparel needs. To our surprise, our shirts also served another purpose for a great printing company right down the road! Brightformat, a Grand Rapids-based digital printing company, had been riding on the proverbial uniform struggle bus for years – until they saw our Smart Sayings™ Team Shirts! Read more about how these fun tees have impacted their business WAY beyond “just a shirt they wear every day.”

From the time we were little, being involved in clubs, teams, or serving our communities has been engrained in us as a great way to build relationships and fill our resumes. Sadly, it seems like once we land the job, we stop engaging in these ways with our workplace peers. But the benefits of “being part of something” are still very much alive and well. So how can you, or your team, get more involved at work? We’ve got some ideas!

We get it: you’re busy. You’ve been in back-to-back meetings, your inbox is virtually overflowing, and the second you get to take a deep breath, your phone starts buzzing. This is the life of a manager. It seems everyone wants a piece of you—and they’re all taking their share. What’s left when the scavengers have scattered? Is there anything for you, let alone your team? You may think there isn’t, but it’d be better for everyone if you believe there is.