What are the factors that keep your business so successful? The answer would be quality products and services and a dedicated team of people. There is no good company without a solid structure. Your employees are what make this structure. Their motivation, hard work, attention to detail, and motivation are what keep your business running smoothly. If you don’t show your employees that you see and value them and their work, it’s time you changed some things. Showing recognition will be a reward to you and them and will only contribute to the great atmosphere in the company. Here are some ideas to help you show your employees how much they mean to you and the company!
Listen to your employees
The first thing you could do is quite simple and straightforward. Every good employer listens to his employees. You can think as much as you want, but sometimes, your workers could give you the answer. If you wonder what they need to be more productive, successful, and satisfied in your company, ask them what you can do.
A short and simple survey could get you all the answers you need. This really is the best way to show that you care about the conditions they work in. Not only that, but you’ll show that you’re interested in their well-being as well. This will help you build team spirit and strengthen your relationship with the employees.
Celebrate the wins
Encouraging good behaviour is always a good idea. Members of your team are very valuable in your company and their wins are company wins. That is a reason why you should celebrate as often as possible. You shouldn’t throw a party every time someone succeeds, but you should mention it in the meetings and give it a round of applause.
You could make the atmosphere even more interesting if you introduce some friendly competitions. For instance, get a gift basket for the person with the highest number of sales each month. The reward isn’t something that will cause animosity among the colleagues, but it will bring the light competition spirit and it will inspire and motivate them.
Remember the anniversaries
Another thing that will show your appreciation to your employees is marking and celebrating the important dates. One such date might be the day people started working for you. People aren’t obligated to stay in your company, but they choose to do it. Shouldn’t you reward them for that?
This doesn’t have to be anything huge. You can simply call them out and hand them a bottle of wine for instance. Thank them for everything they’ve done for the company in the last year. You should pay attention to some other holidays as well. Organise a Women’s day celebration, Christmas or Easter party as well in the company.
Help them learn more
A good employer provides good working conditions for his or her employees. However, a great employer does even more. For instance, you should help your workers learn more and develop their skills. Continuing education is a great opportunity to show recognition to your employees and to improve your company culture.
There is no better way to show that you care than this one. You show that you believe in them and that you are there to help them move up in their career path. When an employee gets plenty of qualifications, you could even promote them! This will further motivate everyone in the company and create an optimistic outlook for the future.
Encourage mentoring
Again, proving that you care about your employee’s expertise and continuous improvement is a great way to promote appreciation and recognition. Mentoring is a great way to do this as well. Having proper mentors for your new employees could ease their transition into a new company and help them find their spot quicker.
It’s also amazing for building relationships between colleagues and showing the importance of authority. If the mentoring is done as it should be, you get a cyclical program. That means that workers who were once mentored become mentors in the future. This is again a way of improvement and it is a rather motivating cycle to be in!
Don’t forget the birthdays
When it comes to celebrations, you should never forget birthdays. Of course, you should know what your employees are like. Not everyone will love parties. In that case, you should respect their wishes and let them fly under the radar. On the other hand, if the staff doesn’t mind, you should definitely congratulate them in a simple and unique way.
You could organise a small party or you could just bring the gifts. If you know what your employees are about and what they like, you could always adjust the gifts to their taste. However, gorgeous birthday flowers, wine, and chocolate will never be a bad idea. Throw in a card as well and tell them a couple of nice words too!
Show gratitude
A simple thank you can sometimes do wonders. Shifts at work can seem endless and the tasks and obligations might just keep piling up. Outside work, your staff have families, friends, hobbies, and problems. However, they show up on time every day and make some admirable results. If that doesn’t deserve a thank you, what does?
You can simply walk up to people and thank them for all the effort they put in their professional life. You could write some notes too. You can hand out thank you cards or you can send them out digitally. Either way, a nice word will improve the air in the office instantly. You will feel great too – sharing good feelings and high vibrations is more than beneficial!
Show off your staff
Are you proud of your team? If you want to tell them and the world how satisfied you are, you could simply put your staff on the website. They are an integral part of your company and they definitely deserve a spot there. This is a perfect way to acknowledge your employees and to show the customers who your team is.
This is a perfect example of transparency in the company culture and it’s also a great way to strengthen the relationships inside the corporate. You could make a team project out of this. For instance, give your staff some time to write their own bios or let them write about each other. Make this a fun experience and use it for team building as well.
Have a team lunch
Another great way to show appreciation is to let the employees relax and not think about work for a while. For instance, you could organise a team lunch at least once a month. Even if this would happen during work hours, it should be a stress-free time. You could take the time to discuss each other’s hobbies or the food you’re eating.
You shouldn’t make a meeting out of this unless that’s something you think would be good for the team. Make sure to check out people’s food preferences and don’t forget to bring a cake. You should pay attention to whether someone is a vegan or have a condition such as celiac disease. This could be something spontaneous as well – something like going out for burgers and fries!
Invest in their wellness
Work can bring a lot of stress into a person’s life. If you want to show that your goal isn’t to overwhelm them with responsibilities and deadlines, show them that. Firstly, pay attention that their schedule is well-organised so they can do their work properly and not suffer from it. Then, you could invest in their wellness. This is especially important in the time of a global pandemic.
For instance, you could have some psychological counselling at work. Maybe your staff needs to talk or rant for a while before they start making that graph. You could give them a gym pass or a massage voucher. These things won’t damage your budget and they will definitely be worthy investments. Your employees will feel better about themselves and about you!
Be understanding and respectful
Finally, you should show that you listen and that you hear. Your workers sacrifice a lot to come into the office and you should be aware of that. That is why you should be flexible and full of understanding. This will make you a trustworthy boss and everyone’s favourite member of the team.
Of course, you shouldn’t throw away the company policies and rules. However, you should find a healthy balance and be there for your workers. Allow them to work from home sometimes and choose your words even when they don’t show the best results. All of this will make them want to improve and be even better.
Conclusion
Dedicated workers are often neglected in companies. It isn’t obvious that you respect your employees. Going the extra mile is usually the best way to show your appreciation and gratitude. All of these ideas are simple and inexpensive. Yet, they will boost morale and productivity in any office and they’ll strengthen the bond you have with your team!
