Researching the phrase “happy employees are productive employees” on Google will yield numerous studies and articles, an overwhelming amount of evidence supporting that this is not merely a charming axiom. The core sentiment underscores that fulfilled and content employees exhibit heightened productivity in their workplace.
How can one maintain a satisfied team? The immediate response might be generous compensation. However, if you manage a smaller enterprise, your financial resources may not support this approach.
Let’s explore some innovative strategies that can help maintain employee satisfaction, even if your budget does not permit the disbursement of salaries on par with large corporations.
Heartfelt thanks
When all other options have been exhausted, the significance of a sincere recognition cannot be underestimated. It is essential to acknowledge an employee’s exceptional performance, even in seemingly modest tasks such as compiling reports more efficiently than projected. The recognition of their efforts can create monumental impacts alongside fostering motivation and upholding morale within the workplace environment.
This strategy not only instils a sense of value in the employee, but it also sparks admiration among their peers who are then inspired to exceed expectations in order to receive similar recognition from senior management. A single act of affirmation can thus elevate productivity throughout the organisation.
Get to know your employees as people
It is a rare occurrence to encounter employees who wish to merely be treated as ordinary members of the workforce. Irrespective of whether you identify yourself as sociable or not, it can prove advantageous to allocate some time in familiarising yourself with your team on a deeper level. This may encompass gaining insights into their interests outside work, or possibly showing interest in noteworthy upcoming events related to their family’s lives.
Implementing this strategy will not only enhance the morale of your staff, but it can also assist in identifying their respective abilities and limitations. For instance, Todd may exhibit a strong competence in client interactions while Julianne has proven to be adept at persuading clients for prompt payment settlements.
Enable their workflows
Policies without purpose can be stifling. Is it possible to enhance productivity by eliminating procedures that serve no function other than impeding your employees’ progress?
Conversely, what proactive measures could be implemented to enhance your employees’ operational efficiency? Is there a particular tool or piece of equipment that could expedite their tasks? Would delegating data processing to an outsourcing company potentially alleviate the work pressure and enable your team to concentrate more effectively on broader tasks at hand?
This applies to mundane tasks as well. It’s universally recognized when one has been assigned a task lacking significance. This can instigate feelings of insignificance, particularly when contrasted with other employees assigned pivotal duties. Ensuring team members are acutely aware that their contributions play an integral role in the organisation is critical to preserving morale and productivity in your company.
Be a mentor
Employees, even those highly content in their current roles, typically aspire to continually develop their capabilities and expand the proficiency they bring to their positions. Inhibiting this natural inclination for growth could potentially be detrimental.
You may harbour apprehensions that a more robust skill set or an expanded range of responsibilities might engender them attractive enough for other competitors to lure away. This concern is valid; however, if it becomes evident that you are intentionally impeding your employee’s professional advancement, resentment will inevitably ensue. They could commence exploring potential opportunities outside of your organisation independently.
By contrast, should you elect to endorse and facilitate their development through means such as seminars, guest lectures, classes so forth into becoming more adept professionals – there surfaces a much higher probability that they would appreciate your initiative greatly. Subsequently enhancing resistance towards overtures from competitive organisations out on the hunt for such talent.
Instil a purpose
If you position your company’s purpose as an external advantage rather than merely stating, “We specialise in X” or “We manufacture Y,” you will undoubtedly observe a significant enhancement in staff morale.
BOSS’ “We do X” is “BOSS is an accounting outsourcing company.” But what we really do (and what we all really believe) is “BOSS enables companies to expand.” Our goal is to help you achieve your goals, and it gives us a good feeling whenever one of our clients informs us that they were able to expand because of the money and time we saved them.
Rather than focusing primarily on the aspects of your business such as achieving X or generating Y, concentrate on how you could improve the lives of your customers or clients. By incorporating this philosophy into your team, you will potentially observe an increase in their productivity and a more satisfied workplace environment.
