It’s not the easiest task to figure out your team’s needs, wants, and concerns. But if you don’t take the time to understand them, you could lose your star players and lose your team’s productivity.
Building connection, loyalty, and making your team feel supported will allow you to ensure a thriving workplace for your employees.
Continue reading to learn how you can connect more with your staff while boosting their morale.
1. Have a feedback loop
Creating ways for your employees to voice their struggles doesn’t just help you improve your workplace: it makes your team feel heard and valued. And, after all, the best knowledge of workplace issues comes from the people who are on the front lines.
Having a suggestion box at the front of your office can be easily ignored. Instead, when your team members clock out of their shifts, you can set up an automatic engagement survey to gauge how they’re feeling, any blockers they’re running into, and any concerns you can help them out with.
Make sure you’re following up with their feedback, so you can think of new ways to make your team’s work environment better. One of the main priorities of your job as a manager is to empower your team and support them as best as you can.
2. Recognize and celebrate your team for reaching goals
When staff members reach their goals, they’re contributing to your company and their career. If a barista is consistently receiving good notes from happy customers, or a retail associate accomplished this week’s sales target, recognize and appreciate them.
If they’re hitting a smaller goal, such as bussing the most tables in a day, give them a gift card to their favorite coffee shop or boutique. If your store associates hit an all-time revenue high, celebrate with them on an employee offsite. Whether they have small or big wins, your staff will feel more part of the team when you’re noticing their accomplishments.
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3. Create a sense of belonging for all
Diverse and inclusive workplaces earn deeper trust and more loyalty from their employees. That means a workplace where everyone feels equally involved, respected, and supported in all areas of your business.
Without inclusivity, your staff may feel like their ideas or contributions are not taken seriously by their managers. They may eventually leave too. In fact, according to a recent survey, 35% of hourly employees feel that a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion will make their work environment more positive.
To retain your staff and make them feel included at work, allow everyone, no matter what their position may be, to give feedback — even if they work part-time. Different perspectives give you a wider view of how you can improve your work environment and boost morale. You can also create employee handbook policies that contain information about non-discrimination laws, the code of conduct, and your business’s compensation and benefits policy.
4. Make opportunities for career growth and development
Many of your employees work for your business to build their skills and knowledge and further their careers. Without any growth opportunities, you risk unproductive employees and higher turnover rates.
In order to help your team members learn and grow at your workplace, set clear expectations of what it takes to move up to the next level at your business — and show them salary increases that come with each role.
You can also help train, support, and give opportunities for them to lead and grow. The next time you’re onboarding new hires, ask your team if any of them want to take the lead in training to demonstrate their leadership skills.
5. Communicate with ease
You’ve heard it hundreds of times before, but there’s a reason you’ll hear it so often. Communication is key, and it never fails. With an easy-to-use communication platform, your team will spend less time stressing about where to find everyone’s contact information and communicate with each other more effectively.
If there are any important business updates you need to share with your employees, you can use your news feed so everyone stays in the loop.
Invest in your most important asset: your employees
Your business can’t grow without your employees doing their best. And in order to do that, you need to provide consistent support and connect with them.
Want to learn more about how you can connect with and motivate your team? Download Your Checklist For Motivating And Retaining Employees.
