By Derek Lotts
Every successful small business understands the employees are their most valuable asset and the core of their success. No matter their title, everyone likes to be treated with respect and rewarded for their efforts, and the least you can do is stay on top of these expectations. After all, the happier the employees are, the better their performance rates will be, right?
If you’ve recently noticed a slight decrease in employee efficiency or you are simply looking to upgrade your leadership game by motivating your employees to stay as fantastic as they already are, here are a few suggestions to help you out.
[amazon_link asins=’8269072001′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’succeedingin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’4828eec2-3420-11e8-a682-3f76ed1c17af’]Observe and delegate
One of the core responsibilities of every great leader is to observe their team and delegate tasks based on every individual’s strengths and weaknesses. While the idea that everyone can learn and do anything and everything works in Oz, the reality is different: some employees may be phenomenal in the most difficult of tasks and complete them quickly and at the same time struggle to bring the basic ones to completion. Other employees will be the opposite. Learn to fine-tune, and delegate tasks per talents/preferences/etc – that way you are getting a bunch of happy, dynamic, motivated people doing what they actually enjoy and an office that’s beaming with productivity.
Understand your employees’ stress
Even the best of the best have their down moments, don’t they? Don’t let the misconception of an ambitious, tough and hardworking employee who delivers fantastic results (for the most part) fool you: just like you, your employees are human and, when put under stressful situations, they’ll react emotionally rather than rationally.
Here are just a few things that happen when employees are under stress:
– A sudden decrease in productivity or lack of productivity altogether;
– Body language suggesting boredom, frustration or annoyance;
– Leaving early and/or showing up late;
– A tendency to isolate and/or (un)intentionally refuse to participate in discussions, group activities, etc.;
– Sudden breakdown in communication with your and/or their colleagues;
– A decline in their health;
– No smiling and/or enthusiasm on their faces.
So, if you are noticing any of these symptoms in your employees, it’s time you changed your attitude, work tactics and approach to handling your team.
Bring life into their office space
No one likes working in dull, plain spaces, especially if they’re a part of the creative sector. Stimulating colors, inspiring artwork, comfortable furniture, natural light, high-quality equipment, fresh air, clean offices, and possibly a lot of natural greenery will do wonders for your team! Take into consideration your workers’ physical comfort, too. For example, here in Sydney where I am, most office updates aren’t even that hard to pull when you pair up with fantastic firms providing high-quality Sydney air conditioning services that handle that terrible Aussie humidity. The moment you freshen up their offices, your employees will liven up!
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Keep in mind that the people who work for you spend more hours at the office than they spend (awake) at home, with their families. Plus, these same people are working hard to not just build their reputation but build YOUR FIRM’s reputation by investing their talents, time, efforts, creativity and dedication. If you notice someone’s standing out – reward them! Everyone loves being acknowledged for the hard work they’re doing, even with a small token of gratitude like a spa weekend, an extra $100 or a coupon for dinner for two. If your entire team nailed it this month – reward them all! You showing appreciation will motivate them and skyrocket your productivity in the months to come.
Every business will face challenging times at one point or the other, and that’s when employee dedication and loyalty matter the most. Obviously, to get your employees to stay with you through thick and thin, you need to earn their trust and respect but giving the same thing back.
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Derek Lotts is a Sydney based writer and researcher, a regular contributor at Smooth Decorator blog. He writes about décor, gardening, recycling, ecology and business. He thinks all of these topics fall under the self-improvement category. He believes in the power of sharing ideas and communicating via the internet to achieve betterment.
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