As a company owner, you place your whole reliance on your staff to do the tasks you set them in order for your company to function as smoothly as possible. Yet have you ever taken a step back and considered how much your employees contribute to your success?
Many company owners fail to recognize this information, leading to employees looking for other employment and leaving you short-staffed. To avoid this happening to both you and your company, consider what you need to do for your staff in order for them to be happy and perform to the best of their ability.
Thank them for their efforts.
Praise for hard work and accomplishments is often overlooked by managers and company owners. When you’ve worked tirelessly to address an issue or complete a job on schedule, it could be quite frustrating when you don’t get any acknowledgement or recognition.
In order to recognize and commend your employees for the effort they have put forth and the results they have accomplished in such a short period of time, be sure that you are conscious of the job that they are doing. Show your gratitude! Thank them sincerely and treat them to something special. You could take them out for brunch at a nice restaurant or organize an escape room activity for building trust within your team. This should make your employees feel valued and will motivate them to work even harder with just as much enthusiasm as they possibly can.
Accept responsibility
One of the most egregious blunders that managers make is refusing to accept responsibility for their own actions. Just because you have a higher position than they do doesn’t mean you are exempt from being held accountable.
Taking responsibility for your errors and encouraging others to do the same is a terrific way to demonstrate leadership and inspire others to do the same when they make a mistake. We’re all human, and it’s inevitable that we’ll make errors from time to time. Being able to accept responsibility and work through the situation demonstrates strength.
Not only does it show strength, but it allows you to grow as a leader and a company. Have you ever considered that your employee’s poor performance is your fault? Have you made every effort to ensure they can do their role properly? Have you trained them properly?
Would they benefit from an outsourced trainer to increase their job efficiency? Have you looked at strategies for improving employee relations and engagement? If the answer is no to any or all of these, then it might be time to accept responsibility and take proactive steps to fix the issues at hand.
Provide them with refreshments.
Food and drink are often prohibited from being brought into the office in order to maintain their image. The fact that you don’t want your employees happily munching on food or drinking coffee on the shop floor is reasonable, but everyone should be allowed some kind of refreshment during lengthy shifts.
Consider providing a staff lounge where employees may go to buy a drink and a vending machine so that they can refuel during their breaks. A member of staff who is well-fed and well-hydrated will perform better than one who is famished and thirsty.
Support them.
In the retail business, or indeed any industry that interacts with consumers face to face or over the phone, you can expect to have a few dissatisfied customers come in or call in to voice their dissatisfaction. Many workers are frustrated by their boss’s failure to support them when they are in a difficult circumstance.
Train your team to cope with these people and be ready to assist if required. Numerous employers make the error of breaking their promise and saying whatever to appease the consumer. Be careful not to go against what your employees have been taught.
Be empathetic.
Personal problems will come up at some point, and while you don’t want every single one of them to be brought into the office, there are some situations where it is impossible to avoid. Employees who have lost loved ones, or who have been injured on the job are excellent instances of when you need to show empathy, particularly for those who have been devoted to your team.
Maintaining a happy and productive workforce begins with being able to tell the difference between those who are sincere and others who are just looking to gain a few more days off.
Your company’s crew is its most important asset, and if you apply these five guidelines and put them into action, you’ll discover that your employees are dedicated, close-knit, and eager to play a proactive role whenever needed.
