Saved by the bell

When the school bell rings at Heritage Animal Hospital in Maple Grove, Minn., team members celebrate. That's because the bell rings when great things happen, like a team member received a compliment or had a positive interaction with a client or co-worker. Team members jot down the event on the adjoining white board and share as many as 30 kudos at the practice's weekly meetings.

"When clients ask about the bell, we tell them it rings when something positive happens in our practice," says Stephanie Preiser, the office administrator and event coordinator. "We've been ringing the bell this way for years now and it still really boosts our team's morale."