Does your team seem to be in a slump? Were your once-fiery employees now in a "same old ways" mentality. If your team needs a boost of inspiration, start with their foundation—the job title.

I've heard many colleagues over the years say they don't really care about titles. You and I both know that this is an all-out lie. People work for titles, they care about titles and feel entitled to them. Like it or not, we are a label society. So use this mentality to your advantage and pump up the volume of your team with some inspiration and fun, as we showcase in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.

A creative job title and summary that speaks to the employee culture as well as the mission and vision of the organization tells prospective recruits a lot about your business:

  • They can be a difference-maker in helping you attract superior candidates who are looking for a business that does things differently.

  • They lay the foundation in providing the candidate with an idea of how it would be to work at your business and what it would take to fit in and succeed there.

  • They tell your brand story to new employees in such a way that they recognize the importance of their role, and how their performance directly contributes to fulfillment of your organization's customer promises, mission and vision.

As you read through this list, think about how the title conveys meaning not only about what the role is, but the manner in which the individual in the role would be fulfilling the responsibility, and the energy the person would be bringing to the organization.

  • Chief Values Officer

  • Owner and Creative Superhero

  • Director of Talent Acquisition

  • Social Media Trailblazer

  • Communications Ambassador

How do creative titles really make a difference? The director of talent acquisition is likely in a recruiting role. At some organizations, this individual might be referred to as a human resource hiring specialist or even simply as a "recruiter."

A recruiter recruits. On the other hand, a director of talent acquisition is on a mission. People with this title know where to go to source recruits (they purposefully direct their efforts). They don't look for candidates or employees; they look for talent, in order to bring more value into the organization. They don't just recruit, they acquire—they go forth and conquer the competition by bringing the best candidates back into the workplace.

Here are some more fun titles to consider for your workplace:

  • Customer Engagement Ninja (customer service or social media)

  • Employee Enrichment Advocate (employee benefits, training, safety or ergonomics-or any other role charged with improving employee working conditions or perks)

  • Ambassador of Buzz (marketing or marketing specialist role, such as social media or PR)

  • Director of Storytelling (internal—HR or employee training; external—marketing or branding role)

  • Customer Connection Technician (marketing roles charged with fostering two-way dialogue with customers, such as social media, email, etc.)

Source: Elizabeth Kraus has led DB Squared marketing efforts since 2013. Among her Amazon.com-published works are 365 Days of Marketing, 12 Months of Marketing for Salon and Spa and Marketing Calendars For Small Business.