No business owner wants a disgruntled workforce. Happy workforces are more productive, more willing to spend more time at work and just more fun to be around eight or more hours a day.
When you own a business it is easy to get lost in the day-to-day operations and take your workforce for granted. There are some things that you can do that will keep your employees happy and ready to show up the next morning.
Be Flexible
Workers appreciate when employers are willing to work with them as individuals. Since different people have different scheduling needs, offer flexibility in the workplace.
If your workplace is capable of providing perks like working from home or working off hours, then you can greatly improve your employees’ attitudes by accommodating their particular needs. Flexibility on your part also makes your workforce more willing to adapt to your business needs when a project is due and overtime is required.
Open Communication
Nothing breeds mistrust between employees and management more than lack of communication. When owners are open about the big picture with their workforce, employees feel like a part of the business. It allows them to feel that they are contributing to the overall business strategy and that they matter. When employees are kept in the dark they feel they are being conspired against.
As an owner, having an open office policy can also help foster the feeling of open communications. If the workforce can come directly to the top with their concerns and wishes, it fosters a feeling of importance in the grand scheme of things.
Offer Opportunities, Not Assignments
Employees like to be given the opportunity to take on more work rather than have the work assigned to them. This allows employees who want the challenge of a new project to stand out. Those happy employees are in a support role and can let others take those opportunities to heart. This lets your workforce feel that they own the responsibility for the work that they do.
Happy Employees Need Individuality
Imposing a dress code, even something as unobtrusive as business casual, can make the staff feel that their opinions are unimportant. When employees can choose what they wear to work, they can express themselves as individuals. Providing guidelines of what is appropriate is a good option, but allow flexibility in the guidelines. Employees will realize that in some cases the guidelines are there to keep them safe; such as in the case of operation of industrial equipment.
Say Thank You
Your business is a team. Everyone on a team enjoys feeling appreciated, and saying thank you goes a long way. Take the time to recognize how your individual employees respond to being thanked. Some may prefer a discreet email while others prefer a public shout-out in a meeting. Tailoring your thank you to the individual employee provides a personal touch. Just remember, happy employees are the key to a successful business.
