Happy employees make for a happy company!
If keeping employees happy was only as easy as it sounds…
Studies show that happy, engaged and valued employees perform better, call in sick less and are more supportive of change. But happiness is an inside job and comes from within. Friends, family and work are all factors that can influence someone’s happiness level. As an employer, you don’t have any influence on someone’s private situation, but there is a lot you can do to increase someone’s happiness in the work place. If you want to create a workplace where happiness and productivity thrive, consider the following;
Make employees feel valued
Encourage your employees and praise them for their work when appropriate and let them know you value them.
Keep in mind that nobody is perfect and that everyone makes mistakes. Don’t get all heated when someone makes a mistake. Instead talk to the person and explain how to avoid similar mistakes in the future. Let them know that they can ask you for help when needed.
Involve your employees
Ask your employees for their ideas on how to improve the company. Have meetings where everyone can express their opinions and concerns and take these into account. Be open to ideas from your employees, be open to likes and dislikes about the company. By involving your employees, you will learn where the company needs improvement and where you are exceeding yourselves. People value being listened to.
Trust your employees
Don’t be afraid to grant your employees more responsibility. This will allow them to grow and become more confident in their abilities and it makes them feel more valued at the same time.
Keep your team up-to-date
Communication gets at the core of employee engagement. Keeping your employees in the loop about what’s going on in the company will strengthen the feeling among employees that they are an important part of the organisation. Inform them about new big projects coming up, company changes, new products or the outcome of a company survey etc. Be transparent, share the news and course of action with your employees.
Rewards
Reward your employees when appropriate with i.e. a nice lunch, extra holidays or even an early Friday finish. Everybody likes to get rewarded for their hard work and it’s nice when this gets recognised. It’s also a new motivator to work towards a new reward.
Also, don’t forget to take company culture into account and tailor the rewards to the people that earned them. Do your employees like a drink? Take them to a nice bar/pub. Do they prefer a nice meal? Book a table at a nice restaurant.
Career Opportunities
Make your employees aware that there is room for development within the company. Provide your employees with training and have meetings about career opportunities. You don’t want your best employees running to the competitor because they offer training and career opportunities and you don’t. People want to develop themselves and giving them this opportunity is a way to keep them happy.
Say thank you
Compensating people in the form of social currency is highly valuated. Has someone worked their ass off, put in a lot of effort to organise something, got in a new big deal, or just delivered great work? Thank them for their efforts!
Working remotely
We work in era of constant connectivity. It’s easier than ever to communicate when not being in the same room. Give your employees the option to work remotely if necessary.
A productive atmosphere on the work floor
When your employees are not crammed in, in a way too small office, but have a comfortable and pleasant environment with the correct supplies and materials available, makes you come a long way. Nobody wants to be distracted all the time because they barely have any space to get their job done right?