Many employers don’t treat their staff with the respect they deserve.
If you run a business, employees are your most important asset. Unfortunately, too many employers don’t treat their staff with the respect they deserve. They pay them too little, ask them to work overtime at short notice, and never praise work well done. The upshot of this atrocious behavior is that the first chance they get, aggrieved employees head for the exit. And who can blame them?
Like all business owners, you are in it to make money. Sure, you may tell yourself that you are working 90 hours a week because you feel passionate about selling blue widgets to the masses, but the truth is, you started this business to get rich and retire early. Well, the quickest way to make more money is to engage your staff. Engaged employees are more productive, and productive employees are happy to go the extra mile, even if it means staying an hour late for nothing more than a pat on the back.
Here are some simple ways to keep your biggest asset engaged and happy.
Pay a Fair Wage
Money is not the be-all-and-end-all of a job, but if someone is earning less than the average wage for their position and experience, they are unlikely to stick around for long. If you are not sure whether your staff are being paid a fair wage, check out a site like Higher Salary. This should give you some useful insights, including a list of 15 kids who are way richer than you expect. Yep, be prepared to experience the green-eyed monster!
Be a Fair Boss
Bosses who rant, rave, and throw their weight around might get results, but nobody loves them unless they are a masochist. A fair-minded boss who treats his staff with respect, compassion, and kindness will inspire far greater loyalty, which in turn will lead to greater productivity. Most people will work harder for a boss they like and respect.
Carrot Not Stick
Continuing on from the last point, if you want your employees to be engaged, praise them when they do good work. We all respond well to praise, it makes us feel appreciated. Reward your employees for good work by offering them an incentive scheme or paying bonuses. Or, if you can’t afford to do either, just treat them to donuts or cakes once in a while. A little goes a long way!
Talk to Your Employees
Communication is critical in the workplace. It is unreasonable to expect employees to do a good job if they don’t know what you want from them. Be clear about your goals and spell out what you need them to do. It is a good idea to be open about the company’s vision, so everyone is on the same page. Staff tend to be more engaged when they know what they are working towards.
Another way to engage employees is to let them “buy in” to the company. Offer high-performing employees shares in the business and they will be far more loyal and hard-working than someone who is not invested.
