Growing a business isn’t a one-person job. It requires the effort of the whole company, not just the business owner. But getting your employees to be as dedicated as you are is, frankly, difficult. That’s why you need to take care of them and cultivate their experience.
Why It’s Helpful
To grow your business, you need to take care of your employees. They’re the lifeblood of any company and the ones that are making the business work. Here’s why businesses should put in the effort to cultivate their employees, and how to do that.
Increases Efficiency and Loyalty
When your employees are provided with the tools they need in the business, they’ll be able to accomplish their tasks far more efficiently. They’ll be more productive and would feel fulfilled and accomplished because they won’t be having trouble with their work. Fewer mistakes, better performance, and an overall positive experience with the company will then make them loyal to your business.
Boosts Retention Rate
A company’s ability to make employees stay is a great sign of stability. This is important as it’s a reflection of the company’s culture, how it is willing to make efforts to take care of its people. And when a company can accomplish just that, employee satisfaction soars, and they stay with the company longer. This benefits the company as they won’t have to spend training new hires often, and their current pool of employees would have the skills and experience ready.
Build Stronger Connection with Customers
When your employees feel satisfied with their work, they’re more likely to interact with customers pleasantly. This is important, as they’re the ones responsible for your business’ image. Employees that are happy with their job will take their post seriously and treat customers well, ultimately creating repeat customers which is better for your business.
Keeps Employees Healthy
In line with employee satisfaction is also being able to address your employees’ emotional and physical needs. In this fast-paced world, we live in, it’s almost inevitable to experience burnout, and to be able to help your employees who go through it means you care about their wellbeing too. Being able to address stress-related issues at work and nip it in the bud can mean fewer “sick leaves”, or fewer instances when an employee has to, unfortunately, call in sick due to the physiological effects of stress.
How Businesses Develop Their Employees
Never Stop Training Them
Train your employees, from the rookies to the veteran ones. The rookies will benefit from the practical lessons they’ll learn, and the veterans will appreciate that you’re keeping them competitive and up-to-date with the latest innovations. Studies have shown that businesses who train their employees tend to have significantly higher retention rates, and it prepares employees for the potential of promotion.
Encourage open communication
Companies need to foster a collaborative culture and establish openness when it comes to communicating difficult topics like stressors, toxicity, and other issues. Meetings can be utilized by managers and supervisors to connect with their team members and get an idea of how they are dealing with everyday work and stress. And apart from group conversations, employees should also feel that it’s safe to speak to their supervisors about their challenges and factors that elicit discomfort towards them.
Demonstrate your trust
Stand by your employees. There will be times that your employees will make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean you should throw them under the bus. Defend your employees from customers, and forgive their mistakes. They’ll feel like a valued member of the company. Of course, you have insurance for errors & omissions, or something similar, as it also protects your business. Ultimately, side with your employees, and they’ll side with you as well.
Validate their Hard Work
Often, when a business is going through a particularly busy season, the business owner calls on their employees to work hard. And when the business successfully pulls through, all the following is a quick thank you. This is a one-way trip to losing your employees’ respect. Make sure to validate their hard work through celebrations and recognition. When someone accomplishes something difficult
Provide a Competitive Salary
First and foremost, a job is supposed to provide financial compensation. After all, we all need money to survive. However, many business owners are often far too focused on their “goal” that they often forget that their employees’ focus isn’t the same- it’s to bring home money to their family. Part of taking care of your employees is compensating them properly, and being stingy will only sour your relationship with them.
