- Get their buy-in. If you don’t embody the culture that you want to have in your business then how will your employees be able to buy-in. they need to feel included, supported and valued.
- Be a supportive leader. Be a role model for your staff and take an interest in them as people, more than just staff. Make yourself accountable in order to set the best example of yourself.
- Empower your employees. We are having our quarterly goal setting session in a few days where we will be discussing not only the business goals but also our personal goals and helping our staff to achieve their goals, this will align them with obtaining our goals as a company.
- Work towards having the best and most positive working environment. We encourage our employees to contribute towards the running of the business, if they have any suggestions to improve our processes or procedures we welcome the feedback and encourage discussion. We are working towards making our team feel comfortable enough to admit their mistakes without the fear of humiliation. We also find that giving our staff challenging tasks from time to time also helps them grow out of their comfort zones.
- We see ourselves as a team. Trust is built through teamwork. we plan to do team building sessions quarterly to bring the team together. through teamwork, the staff then are able to see more than just themselves and their role in the business which promotes positivity and connection among the staff.
- Reward staff. Recognition and rewards are very important parts of business. So often we get bogged down by our tasks and duties that we forget to positively recognise the efforts of others. Positive reinforcement does wonders for anyone receiving the praise.
- Keep things fresh! Processes change as times and employees change. Everyday tasks don’t have to stay the same forever, infact improvement is welcomed. We make a monthly task of updating our procedure manual as we find ways to improve it.
- Manage your staff as individuals, everyone is different and respond to things differently. There is no point in trying to push a peg through a round hole. try to understand your employees, why they are who they are and what is important to them. This can greatly improve your management of them.
- Room for growth – give your employees tasks or challenges out of their normal scope of work. If you see they excel at something give them more of it and the psychological factor of feeling like they are doing a great job will improve their productivity and motivation.
- Transparency – do you have a machine that cost you a fortune and your staff just don’t seem to be able to maintain it properly? Let them in on how much the machine costs and how much it is to maintain it or have it serviced. That may change their tune. Let your staff in on your targets and make it a group effort to get there.
- Find out who your employees are, take an actual interest in the things they enjoy and are passionate about, it’s not all about work and we are all on different journeys and that is what makes our offices and country so colourful. Can you imagine how boring life would be if we were all the same?
- Flexi hours – if you are expecting your employees to take work home or answer emails outside of the office then there needs to be a bit of give-and-take. Be considerate of this and you will get far more from your staff than if you don’t.
- Lastly – ask them what they want! People who feel valued are far more productive!
