You’re not going to grow a large business all on your own. You might be the driving force behind the success of your venture, but you won’t be the only one that has a hand in the direction of your company. Your staff will also play a big role. As such, it’s important that you’re creating a space and environment that allows them to really flourish at your company. While there are many ways to do this, one of the best and most straightforward ways is to show that you care. An employee who knows that their company values them will work harder than an employee who doesn’t know that. Of course, it’s not just about getting them to work harder. It’s just a good thing to do as a human being.
In this blog, we’re going to look at a few of the best ways that you can let your staff know that they’re more than just a number.
Treat Them As Equals
You’re the boss, but only of the company — not of your employees. If you’ve never been in that position before, then it’s important to stay mindful of how you sink into the role. All too often, the power can go to a person’s head, and before long they’ve become a little more controlling than they’d like to be — or even thought that they could be. It’s always good practice to treat your team as equals; and that also means treating yourself as another member of the team, rather than someone above the rest. You’ll find that it allows for much greater social cohesion.
Getting Personal
You’ll have hired your employees to do a job for you, sure, but it’s not as if that’s all they are. They’re also fully-fleshed, real human beings too, each with a complicated and rich life behind them. If you want to show your staff that you care, then be sure to take an interest in this side of their life. One of the chief complaints about employees is that they feel as if their employer just treats them as a number, as a cog in a machine. By getting to know who they are, what drives them, and things like, you’ll be helping to foster a sense of connection.
Trust Their Work
If you’re going to treat your employees as equals, then it can’t just be about lip service. You have to show that they have your trust (and vice versa). If you’re continually micromanaging their work, then it’ll be no surprise if they don’t feel this way. If this is something that you’ve struggled to control in the past, then take some time to learn how to control this aspect of being a boss. Of course, there’ll be times when you do need to intervene, but they should be the exception, rather than the rule.
Career Boosts
Your staff aren’t just there to help you grow your business. You’re there to help them with their career, too. While it’s easy to think that paying a salary is enough, the truth is that, while employees do care about how much they earn, it’s not the only thing they care about. They also want to have a sense of meaning in their meaning, and also to think that they’re going places in their career. So make sure you’re helping them get there. There’s a big difference between working in what you think is a dead-end job, and working in a nurturing environment where your company allows you to take additional courses, offers career guidance and development opportunities, and things like that.
Look After Their Health
If you want to show your employees that you care, then you have to show an interest in the things that matter the most to them. While there’ll be different things in the top three concerns for each individual, there’ll be one thing that appears on every list: their health. One way to let your employees know you care is by providing health insurance; you can take a look at TrueCoverage to find a solution that works for your business. It’s one of the best gifts you can give your employees, and they’ll also be other benefits for your business, too, such as tax savings.
Bonuses and Gifts
And talking of gifts, it’s always beneficial to surprise your staff with a bonus or a visa prepaid card. If you had a good year, then don’t just pocket that money yourself — share the wealth with the team that made it possible. If you need extra motivation to do this, then just remember that studies have shown that giving to other people can have a hugely positive impact on the givers’ happiness level. It doesn’t have to just be monetary gifts, however. There are other benefits you can provide to your team. Even just a morning coffee and donut can seriously improve the ambiance of the office.
Take Their Side
Imagine you had a friend who, as soon as they were around other people, threw you under the bus, just to elevate their social standing. That person wouldn’t be your friend much longer, because you couldn’t be sure that you could trust them. Yet this type of scenario happens again and again at businesses. As soon as there’s a mild complaint from a client, the boss bashes the employee. There will be times when your employee is in the wrong, but even then, it’s worthwhile considering whether it’s worth taking the side of the customer. In nearly all cases, the problem will be with the client, not the member of staff. You could keep a (bad) customer by telling them what they want, but you could also lose a good employee — and that’ll be worse.
Give Honest Feedback
We’re all wary of those people who seem to seem anything just to be liked or to avoid rocking the boat. It just means that we can’t fully trust what they’re saying, and we can also doubt their sincerity. So if you want to show your staff that you care, it’s important that you’re being honest with them, and providing valuable feedback. It’s like when a friend has a problem. Their fake friends will ignore the issue. A real friend will stand up and tell them because they care about their wellbeing.
Pay Them Well
Of course, while there are a million ways to show your staff that you care, it’ll count for little if you’re not paying them well. It doesn’t matter how much of a family atmosphere you create or things like that; if you’re not paying them what they’re worth, then there’ll be something in the back of your team’s mind that makes them doubt how much you value them. Are you taking advantage of them, is what they could reasonably ask. It’s not about paying them the earth; it’s about paying a fair salary. If you’re paying yourself considerably more than you’re paying the team, then there’ll be a problem.
Company Bonding
It’s not just about showing your employees that you care directly. It’s about creating an overall caring atmosphere at your business. If all your team gets along well, then they’ll know that they’re working at a caring company. There are many different ways to do this, it’s just about putting in some effort to create a space where people can get together. For example, you could host after-work drinks, or host a weekend getaway. It’s crucial not to force this because that would have the opposite effect. But if you can put the pieces in place, you might just find that your team builds connections that create a great vibe in the office.
Time and Understanding
We all go through hard times in life, there’s just no getting around it. If a member of your team has a difficult situation, then it’s important that you’re putting their wellbeing forward. Many bosses have lost the trust of their team because of how they acted when the going got tough. One of the best gifts you can give an employee is time for them to handle their issues, and a little bit of understanding. If someone finds themselves in a tough spot, then they’re not going to be delivering their absolute best work. Show a bit of sympathy, and you’ll find that they return to work ready to hit the ground running.
Don’t Ask For the World
Finally, remember that your staff are not superhumans. You’re not a superhuman either. You’re paying them a salary and treating them well, but that doesn’t mean that you have the right to ask that they dedicate their life to your business. Ultimately, they’re not going to be as dedicated to your company as you are. So be reasonable with your demands. If they’re doing the best, and working well for your business, then that should be enough. Also, try to have some patience when mistakes are made. We all make them — but getting angry with a team member will not have a positive impact.