Employees are the bread and butter of any effective organization. They make up the team and help to run it under your leadership and guidance. All good bosses know they must ensure their employees feel happy and cared for in a conducive work environment. Employees must have an enriching and fulfilling time in the workplace. Employees who feel cared for will be motivated to do their best work. This boosts overall productivity and camaraderie in the team and reduces the turnover rate.
Showing employees that you care requires emotional intelligence; you can develop it. You may now be wondering how to take care of your employees effectively. Fret not – we’ve compiled a quick and easy guide below for you to refer to.
Treat Them As Equals
Polls from the National Business Research Institute showed that satisfaction levels among employees rose by 50% with close working relationships. To achieve high satisfaction levels, you must cultivate and encourage a culture of authenticity and sincerity in the organization .
Your team members spend a big part of their time at work. It is crucial to maintain a good working environment for them. Some leaders may pride themselves on projecting a strong image to their employees. However, doing this could be detrimental to the employer-employee relationship in the long term. It projects you as a dominating person and can sabotage employee productivity too.
By maintaining distance, you may indirectly send the message to your employees that they are beneath you. This could create the impression that you do not truly care about them.
To close that distance, you can be more compassionate and care for individual employees’ issues. If you notice employees displaying signs of frustration or tiredness, ask them if they need any support with work.
Some employees might not want to discuss personal issues in the workplace. By taking the first step, you are telling them it is okay to ask for help. It helps, makes them feel cared for and encourages them to share their struggles. You could work with them to sort out any issues they might face. Reach out to them as equals to show that you do not simply view them as resources working for your organization.
It’s All About Communication
Employees feel more comfortable with transparent and open communication. Listen to your employees and consider their opinions and ideas too. It will make them feel counted and that their views matter. It is essential to create an inclusive working environment. So, close any possible communication gap to avoid unwanted situations.
Furthermore, encouraging regular communication among staff will reduce misunderstandings and create an environment of trust. It is crucial for an organization to function smoothly and work toward a common goal. As the boss, you can set an example by trusting your employees to complete their work dutifully. It means that you do not need to micro-manage them. When you give them the liberty to work at their own pace and with their creativity, they voluntarily take ownership of the job. They don’t feel pressurized to work, instead they enjoy their work and turn out to be more productive. With trust in each other, employees enjoy greater autonomy and freedom at work.
Employees will also be more willing to share negative feedback in an open environment where they trust their colleagues and bosses. Negative feedback, when delivered politely and constructively, helps everyone in the organization grow and improve. Whether leading a small business or an enterprise, feedback is crucial to excelling in the long run.
Tell Them When They’ve Done A Good Job – It Helps
Rewarding employees make them feel appreciated; ensures that their day-to-day efforts don’t go unnoticed. Most importantly, it implies that employees are fairly compensated. When you appreciate them for a job done well, it conveys positive feedback and encourages them. Formal recognition of the appreciation supports them to grow and get more benefits. This reflects that your organization is keen on its growth too.
Even simple rewards can show your employees that they are appreciated for their work. You can give them small tokens of appreciation like custom-embossed notebooks or desk planners. They would appreciate the personalized touch, and it would be useful in helping them organize their tasks. When leaders convey their appreciation, employees will take more pride in their work, leading to better job satisfaction.
Invest In Their Personal and Professional Development
Developing your employees means committing to their development. It can include the development of professional skills and their well-being. Employees need to feel mentally and physically healthy before they can work well. So, you mustn’t neglect this aspect of your employees because you are dealing with ‘human’ resources.
Show that you care by reminding your employees to pay attention to their health. Encourage them to take regular meals – motivate them to bring healthy homemade lunches if they are too busy to go out. Provide them with adequate medical leave, comprehensive medical insurance plans and paid time off to rest. You can also think about implementing incentive-based programmes where you reward employees for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For instance, employees who regularly consume their meals could be rewarded with reusable lunch boxes and cups. All these are effective ways of encouraging your employees to care for themselves mentally and physically.
For professional development, having private, face-to-face sessions with employees can help establish a plan for their future. A Next Generation Workplace report found that 50% of employees with specialized career development plans stay at companies longer. Investing in your employees also means boosting employee loyalty and retention rates.
Not Just Co-Workers
Having employees who accept one another further creates a welcoming and comfortable working environment. Leaders should encourage employees to get to know each other better. This can be as simple as going out for lunch together or allowing frequent breaks for employees to rest and socialize.
It may sound counter-intuitive, but setting time aside for colleague relationship-building activities does help improve employee performance.
Some companies also hold annual recreational events to encourage team bonding. These can help employees simultaneously take their minds off work and have fun with their colleagues. Such activities can be outdoor sports or charity events where your teams get the chance to give back to society. Your organization could even get creative and purchase custom-printed company t-shirts to commemorate the occasion. Employees who wear these t-shirts during the event feel a greater sense of belonging to the organization.
Taking care of your employees effectively is an essential part of managing your employees well. Granted, it is not an easy thing to do and requires immense dedication from you and your organization. However, the results will pay off immensely. When you show your employees the caring side of yours, they will, in turn, care more about their work for you. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
