Your position isn’t relevant – as an employee of a company, you want to feel loved. It’s not even about love; it’s more of an appreciation thing. Workers understand they are a cog in the wheel that is the business, yet they’re human beings too. Sometimes, it’s nice to hear a manager say “well done; you did a good job today.”
Bosses can sometimes go over-the-top to show their approval because it seems like the best option. Most of the time, it’s the little things which make the biggest impact. Below are four of the smallest gestures that will show your employees you care. And, the majority of them are free.
Say Thank You
Bosses tend to be in a rush and don’t have to time for niceties. You understand because you’re in charge, yet your staff can’t comprehend why two seconds to say “thank you” is too much to ask. On the whole, the employees are right as it doesn’t take a lot of time to utter a few words of thanks in the moment. Plus, you’d expect it of them so you should reciprocate. Great leaders go the extra mile and leave a handwritten note or send a message via email or text. Nowadays, there are dozens of ways to right a wrong if you don’t get it right the first time.
Hand Out Awards
Certain prizes only breed negative competition. An “Employee of the Month” scheme is a perfect example. Anybody in the running will shirk their team responsibilities to win; plus, it creates divisions between the two teams. A much better option is to award accolades for the sort of behavior that you want to replicate. Some of the best include:
– Best team player;
– The person who went the extra mile; and
– Most improved
Announce them in a semi-formal setting and make sure everybody knows their contributions are noticed.
Outsource The Boring Stuff
One thing employees hate more than anything in the world is monotony. When they have to do the same thing over all day, it bores the life out of them. It also makes them think the managers don’t value their contribution to the company. To boost morale, go out and rent a post box forwarding service or hire a third-party customer service specialist. For workers, this is music to their ears as they don’t have to deal with the garbage which normally comes their way on a daily basis. And, it frees them up to do more exciting and challenging tasks.
Mentor Up
A lot of the time, workers are left to their devices to do their job. Although some people like this, others aren’t sure where to turn when they need help. It’s as if they are marooned with nowhere to go. Providing them with a mentor is an excellent solution because they can guide recruits with their years of experience. From both perspectives, it kills two birds with one stone. The newbie gets to learn the ropes from a trusted source, and the wise owl has an extra level of responsibility and trust.
And most importantly, remember that it’s not the size of the gesture that counts, but the message it sends.
