For small business owners, it’s important to recognize the value your employees bring to the table. After all, where would you be if not for a loyal and supportive workforce who believes in your vision as strongly as you do?
The knowledge, talent, and skills of your employees are vital to keeping your organization moving forward and reaching your business goals. Therefore, it's imperative to let them know that they are appreciated members of your team! And to look for opportunities to help them enhance their professional skills.
Every business has felt the challenges of the pandemic over the last two years, especially the ability to bring teams together to show your appreciation by hosting a company picnic, holiday party or even monthly staff meetings that gave people a chance to collaborate and get to know one another.
The good news is face-to-face gatherings are being held again! So, if your staff have been feeling a bit neglected, now is the time to schedule some employee gatherings and team building activities. Of course, making staff feel safe is still a priority when it comes to in-person events and you may still need to include people virtually. Here are a few ideas you can try.
Give Morale a Boost
Work/life balance for everyone is critical as it helps reduce stress, prevent burnout, and has a positive impact on employee performance. Leveraging opportunities to include employees and their family members in events - like taking everyone out to a baseball game or holding a virtual cookie decorating session - can boost morale in a way that improves work/life balance. The result? Employees that are happier, have higher productivity, work harder, and become advocates for your brand.
Offer Opportunities for Personal and Professional Growth
From the newest hire to the business founder, the quest to learn can help employees succeed in life and in their careers. Whether it's learning from other team members, seeking out classes or attending a conference, helping employees expand their capabilities to become the best version of themselves is important to building a healthy workplace culture. By accumulating new knowledge and skills, people are apt to develop new ideas and solutions, adapt to changes and seize new opportunities—all elements that contribute to the success of a business. The upshot is higher morale, employee engagement and loyalty, and ultimately, greater employee job satisfaction.
Investing in your team shows you value them. One way to show that investment is to host a “lunch and learn”. A lunch and learn is an informal training or presentation conducted during lunch that can be held in-person or virtually. This voluntary meeting is a beneficial way to encourage teamwork, collaboration and personal enrichment. For example, having a financial expert explain the details and benefits of saving for retirement is a great way to show you care about ensuring your employees are planning for their future. Subjects for lunch and learns are limitless and are a great way to motivate employees while creating a workplace of open communication, collaboration, and learning. Best of all? The company usually provides lunch which is often a bonus for your employees!
Showing Employees That You Value Them
One of the most significant things employees say they value and desire is to simply feel appreciated and recognized for a job well done. You can do this by hosting employee gatherings to celebrate your collective success or recognize individual achievement. However, you can also just take an employee out to lunch or send them a handwritten thank you note with a box of cookies to show how much you value them. Either way, it’s important to make this process a cornerstone of your leadership style to develop a strong company culture.
In the End
Whether you've decided to hold a virtual lunch for all staff members or are taking the plunge with an in-person event – it’s important to take advantage of every opportunity to bring your team together. The more employees that are engaged with your business and each other, the more likely they will be dedicated to helping your business succeed. Ultimately, employees who feel valued are happier, more productive, and less likely to look for other employment opportunities – and that’s a win-win!
Looking for other business-related topics to help you run your business? Read Tips to Build a Business Plan in the Face of Uncertainty and visit our Simply Speaking Blog for more articles on how to help your business thrive!
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