Richard Branson has been quoted as saying “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” And we agree. Your employees are the engine of your business and if they are working optimally for your business then your business will flourish. Here are nine ways to get your employees to shine.
- Respect the diversity in your workforce.
Your team is made up of a variety of people who have different personalities and needs. It is important to understand each employee and see what motivates them and how you can use this motivation to make them do their best work.
- Communicate clearly.
Miscommunication can lead to a whole host of problems within your organisation. You must communicate clearly what your employee’s responsibilities are. If you have important news to share with your employees you should have a face-to-face meeting. Another good way to communicate with your employees about changes or opportunities within your business is through a monthly or weekly newsletter.
- Be fair.
Even though it is important to know your employees well, you shouldn’t play favourites. Everyone should be treated equally.
- Reward your staff.
Bonuses are always a welcome reward especially if your employees have done an exceptional job in their work. You can also use fun activities that everyone enjoys doing to reward your staff. Sometimes, if you see an employee has done their best, you could reward them with verbal recognition by telling them it was a job well done.
- Trust your employees to get the job done.
Many entrepreneurs have worked hard to build their business and when they employ people to assist with the business, they are constantly looking over their employee’s shoulder. It is important to trust that the people who you have hired to work for you will do the job properly. You should allow them to be innovative within their work and help you to streamline your business for the best.
- Give and receive feedback.
It is important to give your employees feedback on a consistent basis so that if they are not up to par they can improve. You should also not be afraid to listen objectively to feedback and if the change that the employee suggests is attainable it may be worth implementing.
- Hire knowledgeable people.
The people who you hire for positions in your business must be more knowledgeable than you in the field where you want them to operate. You should also make sure that they will fit into your culture. It will not help your business to hire someone who is an expert but does not work well in your team.
- Train your staff.
If there are aspects in your employee’s work which they are weak at then it would be important to train them. By giving your staff opportunities to develop professionally, they may become more loyal to your business because you have helped them to excel in their career development and your business will benefit from their improved knowledge.
- Manage conflict.
With the diversity of employees in your business, there will definitely come times when conflict arises. It is important to nip the conflict in the bud before it harms your business. You should always review the conflict situation from both sides and try to remain as objective as possible.
By focusing on these nine areas, you will be able to bring out the best from your workforce.