An undervalued workforce can have detrimental effects on a business. Here's some key actions that will ensure staff feel appreciated.
Running a business is a major responsibility to shoulder, involving as it does a wide variety of challenges each passing day. Growth and profit are naturally leading ambitions, but they do not occur in a vacuum, nor from your efforts alone; it is the staff beneath you that invariably keep the ship afloat.
Those staff, and indeed the wider workforce in the UK, are more acutely aware of their contributions than ever before. The Great Resignation that captured attention towards the end of 2021 was fuelled largely by a cohort of the working population emboldened to ask for their worth – and to seek it by ‘trading up’ for a better business, role or even career.
As a new small business owner that has experienced swift growth, you might find yourself with employees for the first time – and you might be unsure exactly how to process this. Your staff cohort is vital to your success as a business, but you are more likely to suffer from increased employee turnover (and all associated costs) if you do not address staff needs beyond basic salaries. ‘Value’ is the keyword here. What can you, as a leader, do to ensure your employees feel valued, hence improving the stature of your business?
Ask for their opinions
Employees who don’t feel valued often don’t feel they have a voice within the business or within their department. The sense that little can be changed, or that input is unwelcome, can lead engaged employees with progression aspirations to ‘check out’ and seek better opportunities.
If a company’s culture is one that indicates employee concerns will not be heard or addressed, then this could spell disaster for its employment metrics; according to a recent study, one in three workers would rather leave their job entirely than speak up about an issue. With this in mind, it's more critical than ever not to ignore any issues that may have arisen in the business and, if you spot any employees or situations that seem to be out of place, then don’t be afraid to have open, honest conversations to work towards a beneficial outcome for all involved.
Redressing the balance here is vital. What can you do to make the conversation easier between employees and management? How can you facilitate high-quality feedback from your staff to effect equitable change? Simply speaking to staff members individually, and directly asking for feedback or input, can be a good start to reopening that door, and re-establishing that sense of value. This will also demonstrate to your workers that you have their best interests in mind.
Reward results
The quintessential method of demonstrating value comes in the form of reward. Rewarding staff for work well done is a good example of positive reinforcement. A small, physical gift for a non-KPI based achievement can show individual employees that they have value beyond their performance metrics, and sows the seeds for a warmer company culture as a whole.
Look out for their safety
Safety is a vital consideration for all businesses and should be at the top of the list for any business leader seeking to signpost value in their staff. There are, of course, legal responsibilities that organisations have regarding the health and safety of their employees, but businesses can go above and beyond these to demonstrate how much their staff are valued. Demonstrating that you are working towards a safe and secure workplace will go far with your employees, and they will feel happy going to work knowing they are looked out for.
Ensuring you look after your employees is pivotal, and carrying out the above points will ensure they remain happy working for you. If there’s any further benefits or improved way of working, then it’s important to always consider opening this up to retain and add valuable staff to your business.
Article originated in People Management
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