As every employer knows, a business is only as good as its team. And the more content, well rounded and educated that team is, the more productive they are too; what small business owner doesn’t want that?
Indeed, it seems there is no better way to encourage a sense of team unity and increased productivity than by being the most inspiring and responsible boss you can be. Here’s how; our 7 tips on becoming an employer that people want to work for.
Communication Is Key
No matter how big a company is, communication between an employer and employee should always be a priority. People need to feel included and being left in the dark when it comes to business creates dissatisfaction on a high level.
Keep your workforce up to date with company performance and goals. Let them know how important their role is, and that they’re not just a faceless cog in the machine. Value their opinion and their perspective, which is, needless to say, unique and should therefore be taken into consideration in order to improve the overall business strategy.
Practice assertive communication and try to have a personal approach with your employees. Showing you care about their wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of your firm creates a positive environment people will be happy to find themselves in.
Motivate & Manage
Leading a team is not an easy task, make no mistake. It’s imperative, then, that you learn how to effectively manage people; in doing so you’ll undoubtedly boost your business. Operational planning, finance, meetings, and travel arrangements are just some of the aspects of your business which require exceptional leadership skills.
Bonuses, perks and financial compensation are always welcome when it comes to motivation, but once your employees see that you are more than capable of running a solid, smooth operation, their loyalty will be earned.
Encourage Professional Development & Continuous Learning
In an ever-evolving business landscape, fostering an environment that prioritises professional development and continuous learning is paramount. As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure that your team does not stagnate in their current roles but rather, has ample opportunity to enhance their skill set and knowledge base.
Offering structured training programmes, sponsoring relevant courses, and encouraging attendance at industry conferences can all contribute to an employee’s professional growth. Moreover, by implementing mentorship schemes within your organisation, you can facilitate the sharing of expertise and experience, further enriching your team’s capabilities.
Remember, when your employees grow, they don’t just bring new skills to your business; they bring renewed enthusiasm and a fresh perspective that can invigorate your entire operation. By investing in their development, you’re not only bolstering their individual career prospects but also fortifying the future of your company.
In essence, when you champion the professional advancement of your employees, you create a win-win scenario: your team members feel valued and empowered, and your business reaps the benefits of a highly skilled and motivated workforce.
Be Flexible, Grant Freedom & Allow For Privacy
Setting down rules is one thing, but refusing to adjust them to your employees’ needs is quite another, and won’t get you anywhere when it comes to improving the efficiency of your workers. For members of your team, having that balance between work and family life is essential to job satisfaction, and if you don’t show signs of flexibility, the workforce will follow suit.
Instead, be open to alternative arrangements – working from home, flexible hours or working part-time. Not only will you show that you value their struggle to obtain a good work-life balance, but you will also demonstrate that you trust them to do quality work on their own terms.
Privacy, too, plays a crucial role in the workplace. It’s essential to create spaces where employees can work undisturbed when they need to focus, as well as ensuring that their personal data is handled with the utmost confidentiality. This respect for their private lives and personal information fosters trust and shows that you value them as individuals, not just as workers.
To truly embrace this ethos, consider implementing ‘quiet zones’ in the office where employees can work without interruption. Encourage the use of privacy screens and noise-cancelling headphones to help create personal space in open-plan offices. Moreover, be transparent about data policies, DBS and personnel checks, and any performance monitoring, and be diligent in protecting sensitive information to reassure your team that their privacy is a priority.
By granting freedom and ensuring privacy, you’re not only accommodating your employees’ needs but also empowering them to manage their own time and workload more effectively. This level of autonomy can lead to a more engaged and responsible workforce, as employees feel trusted to deliver results without micromanagement.
Listen, Listen, Listen
Great employers are great listeners. Do we need to repeat that? Good. The best are aware of the fact that they don’t have the answers to everything, and that all suggestions and insights are welcome and worth considering. Empathy plays a key role here.
When you really listen to your employees’ complaints or suggestions, you’ll be able to offer satisfactory and well thought out feedback; beneficial for everybody, we think. Furthermore, the mere fact that you show an interest in the opinion of your colleagues sends a message that you truly care about them. They’ll show a similar attitude in return.
Create A Positive Company Culture
Company culture is, to boil it down, the company’s personality. It represents a combination of the work environment, mission, ethics, expectations, and goals. Creating a positive company culture will make people want to be a part of your business. They’ll be proud to represent it and proud to help create and promote its products and services. Once the employees feel a positive attitude, they’ll feed it back and that’s how the positive company culture is both created and maintained. A symbiotic relationship, for sure.
As well as creating a positive company culture, encouraging cultural diversity, awareness, and sensitivity is absolutely essential in the modern, progressive workplace. This can be achieved through training.
The aim of cultural awareness training is to help people start the journey towards cultural intelligence (CQ). Cultural intelligence is the ability to interact effectively with people from other cultures. It involves understanding the customs and values of other cultures and being able to adjust your own behaviours accordingly.
Always Allow Room For Growth
Employees need to feel that they’re making progress. Growth in a business environment is immensely important if you want your workers to feel like they matter. The work they do adds to their experience and qualifications, and rewarding their dedication will motivate them to be better, work harder, and thus add to the company’s health and employee wellbeing. Because let’s face it; moving up the career ladder is always a good incentive, making the employee feel valued and appreciated. And that’s what it’s all about, right?