Simple Ways To Show You Care For Your Employees
In business, perception is something that is a very real issue for business leaders and small business owners. Leaders need to decide how they want their employees to view them, and then act accordingly. In many cases, a business leader should choose a combination of different traits, from being stoic and strong, to either closed-off or loud. Some leaders make the mistake of thinking that they have to be quite tough and reserved, in order to gain respect from employees. And while that may be a strategic decision, it can really mean a lack of personal connection with your team, which can be a really big mistake.
In business, perception is something that is a very real issue for business leaders and small business owners. Leaders need to decide how they want their employees to view them, and then act accordingly. In many cases, a business leader should choose a combination of different traits, from being stoic and strong, to either closed-off or loud. Some leaders make the mistake of thinking that they have to be quite tough and reserved, in order to gain respect from employees. And while that may be a strategic decision, it can really mean a lack of personal connection with your team, which can be a really big mistake.
Simply because, if employees feel valued and appreciated by their employer, then they are much more likely to be someone who goes above and beyond for the business and in their job role, as they will feel like an important part of it. If they don’t feel connected, then they really won’t care. Importantly, these kinds of employees that feel happier in what they are doing, will be happier at work. If there are leaders who disregard the importance of being connected with their team, then they will lose a massive benefit of having a dedicated team. And for a small business, that is what it is all about.
There may be some team members that find it difficult to connect on a personal level with their employees, as they can feel like they then won’t be respected. But the trick is to really show your team that you care. If they know you have their back, rather than being an aloof leader that they hardly see, then it can go a long way to helping. So here are some of the ways that you can show them that you care.
Go above and beyond to help them
Although you will be busy as the business owner, you need to think about being able to assist your employees with any work issues that they might have. A leader that cares about them will keep an eye out on any personal issues too. When you support your team in all different aspects, it can help to create loyalty that is hard to break, and it is something that will be invaluable in a business relationship.
Do things that set you apart from other employers
If you are someone who can be a little creative with the perks that you give your team, then it can make a difference. And these things don’t have to be costly. It could be making sure that you remember birthdays, or getting them discounts at things local to the workplace like a gym or lunch truck. You could also make sure that you have something like truck accident lawyers you can rely on when it comes to the logistics side of your business. Your employees will get a lot of peace of mind knowing that they can be taken care of. These kinds of perks just show that you have thought about the team’s personal and professional lives and you want to do a little something to make it all better.
Be real and transparent
If you have an employee that asks for feedback, then make sure that you can be honest. You can be tactful without being dishonest. So don’t be unkind about things, if there are areas that they need to improve upon, but if you shield employees from the truth, it won’t help them or the business to improve. So transparency is key, and it will usually go alongside something like something that you might consider an uncomfortable conversation, but these can help you both to grow. Plus, when you can have these kinds of conversations, it will help to get some real action points, as they will have honest but productive feedback to be thinking about.
Create opportunities for new experiences
Having a team that is loyal to you, will help them to stay with the business for longer, which can keep your business running smoothly, and keep things working well. So if a member of the team expressed some interest in developing in a certain area or doing a particular kind of training, then it pays to help to hone that interest. It could be that there is a business conference coming up, for example, but someone who wouldn’t normally go expresses an interest. This is a great chance to show them the wider industry, which can help them to understand their role in the company, more than before.