It’s a well-known fact that without efficient staff the level of success a company can reach is limited. There is only so much that an entrepreneur can do on their own to reach the top, which is why many hire employees to help lighten the load. Though it is necessary to hire top talent, retaining staff and ensuring that they’re performing at their best requires a lot more than a nice salary with fringe benefits. As a business owner, it is also your responsibility to make sure that those you employ are content.
Here are some examples of how to keep your staff happy and reasons why it should remain a priority:
Easy Ways to Keep Your Staff Happy
Keeping your employees happy doesn’t have to mean giving out raises or overextending your budget on a regular basis. There are a lot of ways you can show your support and keep smiles on their face. Consider some of the following options:
- Offer flexible scheduling for better work/life balance
- Give out presents during the holidays like turkey gift certificates or gourmet food baskets
- Provide opportunities for training and continued education
- Trust your staff to complete projects (in other words, don’t micromanage)
- Keep the lines of communication open and encourage creativity
- Provide the appropriate tools to streamline processes and make job duties easier to tackle
- Consider an employee recognition program to show appreciation
Why Employee Happiness Should be a Priority
Though many of the above ideas are great and affordable, you may be curious to know why you should invest more in the success and happiness of your staff. Here are a few reasons why:
Improved Productivity
When your employees enjoy where they work and what they do, they are more inclined to perform their best. Therefore, doing what you can to make them happy encourages them to work harder. When a worker isn’t overwhelmed with stress or obstacles that hinder their ability to complete their jobs, their minds work more efficiently to tackle the task at hand (instead of being distracted by feelings of disappointment.
Employee Loyalty
Employee turnovers are expensive for businesses. For every person that leaves a job, they take with them their talent and experience. Though there are pools of other qualified candidates, the process of recruiting and training new staff is time-consuming and costly. By keeping your employees happy, showing them that you care about their professional development, and giving thanks for their contributions to your company, you boost their spirits and gain a loyal team who will stick around for the long-haul.
Better Collaboration
Working alongside others may be a requirement of the job, however, the best teams are comprised of happy employees. When your staff feels great about where they work and their purpose within the organization, they have an easier time collaborating with others to reach a common goal. They strive to find a harmonious balance that allows each of them to use their talents to complete projects.
Strong Customer Relationships
Keeping the customers happy is equally important to the success of your business. Your employees are the first individuals to come in contact with your customers. A disgruntled or unhappy worker isn’t going to go above and beyond to ensure that the needs of the customer are met. Happy employees, on the other hand, are passionate about their jobs and believe in the companies they work for. This essentially means that they’re willing to do what it takes to develop a positive relationship with your customers.
Increased Confidence
A person who feels good about the company they work for and has the backing of that company to evolve as a professional will work ten times harder than anyone else. When they feel valued for what they do and have the support and tools necessary to keep performing at their best, they will willingly take on more tasks, come up with good ideas, and jump at the opportunity to challenge themselves.
Obviously, you can’t keep everyone happy all the time. However, if you’re going to succeed, it pays to remember that a happy workforce is ideal for businesses of all sizes. Your staff is a huge factor in your brand’s success. If you’re not doing what you can to make them happy, morale declines and with it goes productivity, quality service, and teamwork. Start making the needs and desires of your staff a top priority. As you begin to implement some of the ideas listed above, you’ll realize that there are no limits to just how far your vision can go.