Merit raises, employee appreciation gifts and awards, and incentive travel are effective ways to build employee morale and company pride. Aside from these obvious choices, the importance of day-to-day morale boosters cannot be overstated. While it is important to provide memorable, enticing incentives that will encourage employees to reach sales goals and improve their performance, it is also important to make sure they feel appreciated, trusted and respected on a daily basis.

Improving employee morale on a daily basis through showing them respect and making them feel appreciated is much simpler than it may seem. Little things like ensuring that each employee is given equal time and recognition during meetings, making sure they know you are aware of and appreciate the long hours they are spending on a project and not looking over their shoulder every second of the workday go a long way towards showing them that they are trusted and appreciated, resulting in improved morale and productivity.

Another simple way to boost morale and productivity is to provide both small and large incentives. For example, an annual incentive cruise for top salespeople should be supplemented with smaller competitions or incentives, such as gift cards or personalized items they can use at work that can be given out for making weekly or monthly sales goals.

Did you know that business casual attire started during the energy crisis of the 1970s? Raising the office thermostat, a few notches resulted in men shedding their coats and ties. Women followed suit, discarding suit jackets with a sigh of relief.

Smart casual attire is often the standard for day-to-day work. After all, a tie and jacket can swiftly raise business casual up to international standard business attire in just a few quick minutes. Informal dresses and skirts in reasonable lengths are more popular for the average workday than dry-clean only suits.

The “don’ts” in business casual are on display all too often. Shorts, untucked shirts, flip flops and beach sandals just will not do in the office. Mini skirts and low cut blouses destroy credibility. Jeans, so often the American dress standard, are just casual, not professional.

That being said, a meeting planner has to adapt to her geographic and business standard norm. Bill Gates can get away with wearing high-class gym shoes to the office, but most likely you won’t be able to do so. Keep in mind that your appearance has an impact on potential clients.

It is possible to dress comfortably and neatly while still looking professional. A smart, put together look gives your client confidence that your job skills are up to par as well.