Yesterday I was dining at a relatively new spot in Toronto called da nu la. The meal was quite good but not exceptional. As we were leaving the chef came out from the kitchen, shook my hand and introduced himself. He asked how my meal was and then held my jacket out so I could put it on. It cost him nothing but a minute of his time. I really noticed this. This was a good guy and I really want to help him out. I will tell all my friends about this place and, when I’m in the area, I’ll go back myself.

What little things do you do to improve the lives of people you work with? How do you connect with customers to show them you care? When’s the last time you told an employee that you genuinely appreciate her contribution? What about sending an important vendor a token of your appreciation? People want to feel appreciated. If you actively work on maintaining a good rapport with people, you will make people want to do business with you and improve morale. Little gestures can go a long way. So why not incorporate them into your management style?

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