If you are an employer, you will want to be able to keep your employees as happy and productive as possible. It’s one of your key roles as “the boss,” and one that might sound easy enough, but it actually takes a lot of time and effort to get right.
If you’re not sure where to start, read on to discover some of the most valuable ways to keep your staff happy and to ensure they are able to work at their very best. It might take some effort on your part, but it will be worth it in the end when you see the results.
Recognize Their Progress
A good leader will always know how to offer constructive criticism; this is how you are going to make your business grow, and it is what employees will—in some part at least—be looking for. However, it is just as important to acknowledge when an employee does well. It is crucial to let them know you are aware of the effort they have put in, and that you are pleased with what they have done.
You can offer a reward such as an extra vacation day or a pay rise (depending on what kind of contribution they have made), or you can choose to simply praise them and offer them encouragement. Whatever you choose will have a positive effect.
Create a Comfortable Office Environment
In order to truly get the most out of your employees, you need to ensure they are comfortable in their working environment. Sometimes this could mean allowing them to work remotely, at least on a part-time basis. If this is not practical or you prefer not to, then making the office space itself a comfortable, pleasant place to be is important.
Give your employees what they need to help them feel happier and to be more productive. This might be providing enough food and drink in the break room, for example, perhaps with the facilities to make an extra-special drink such as iced coffee; or it could be comfortable chairs, attractive decor, or even ensuring they have the right tools for the job you are asking them to do.
Trust Them
Showing that you trust your employees is one of the best ways to keep them happy and loyal. This means not micromanaging their every move, even if this is difficult to begin with. Of course, you will want people to do their jobs well and to work hard on behalf of the business you have built up, but if you don’t learn how to delegate well and step back, not only will you have unhappy employees, but you will be giving yourself a lot more work to do.
You can also show that you trust your team by asking them for their input when it comes to making decisions, and getting feedback and ideas from them for anything that might need to be done within the business. The final decision will always be yours, but you might hear some great ideas in the process.
Sylvia Browder is CEO of Specialty Home Services LLC, a Home Improvement Company; a Small Business Consultant at Browder Consulting Group, a startup consultancy firm to help women with startup assistance, marketing, website and graphic design work and other support services. In addition, she has co-authored several published books; publisher of ‘Sylvia Browder’s Blog for Women Entrepreneurs’ a lifestyle blog; and publisher of ShopSpendBlack.com Business Directory & Blog platform created to help consumers find black owned businesses in a searchable format. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 30 years; 5 adult children and 5 grandchildren; church; friends and motorcycle riding.
