As a business owner, you put all of your trust into your employees to do the work that you’ve assigned to them so that your business can run how you see fit. But have you ever sat back and thought about how much your team actually does for you? Many business owners fail to acknowledge this information and end up taking their members of staff for granted, which can result in people looking for new jobs and leaving you stuck for staff. To prevent this from happening to you and your business, take a look at the things you need to be doing for your team so they are happy and work to the best of their abilities.
Praise them
One of the most common things that bosses and business owners forget to do is praise their staff for their hard work or achievements. When you’ve worked hard to resolve a problem, or to get a project done on time, it’s really disheartening when you don’t get any thanks or praise. Make sure that you’re aware of the work that your staff are putting in so that you can praise them for the hard work that they’ve done, and what they’ve achieved in such little time. Doing this will make your team feel appreciated and fuel them to work harder and with as much passion.
Take the blame
Another massive faux pas that bosses make is not taking blame for mistakes that have been made because of them. Just because your role is higher than them doesn’t make you any less available to blame. As Afterburner Inc explains here, being able to take accountability for the mistakes that you’ve made or caused shows great leadership, and will encourage others to do so when they have made a mistake. We’re all human and are likely to make mistakes from time to time, and being able to take the blame so that you can resolve it shows strength.
Give them refreshments
Many workplaces don’t allow food or drink on site to keep up reputation. While it’s understandable that you don’t want to see your staff stuffing their faces or guzzling down coffee on your shop floor, everybody should be entitled to some sort of refreshment during a long shift. Make it so that your staff are able to nip out to grab a drink in the staff room, and have a vending machine available so that on their breaks, they’re able to get something to eat and revitalise themselves. A refreshed member of staff will work harder than someone who is hungry and dehydrated.
Back them up
If you work in the retail industry, or in fact any industry that deals with customers face to face or on the phone, then you’re subject to a few disgruntled customers coming in or phoning to complain. The problem that many employees face is their boss not backing them up in a sticky situation. Train your staff to deal with these customers, and make sure that if you’re needed to back them up, that you are. Many bosses make the mistake of going back on their word and saying anything just to please the customer. Don’t make the mistake of going against the training you’ve given to your staff.
Be compassionate
Everybody has personal issues that will crop up from time to time, and while you don’t want every single bit of drama dragged into the workplace, there are some circumstances which simply cannot be helped. The death or sickness of a loved one, or even injury to the member of staff are perfect examples of times that you need to be compassionate, especially if said member of staff is a loyal member of the team. Learn to establish when someone is being genuine, and when someone is simply trying to get a day or two off work, and you will be able to keep your team happy and hardworking!
Your team is the backbone of your business, and if you follow these 5 things and carry them out you will find that your team is hardworking, tight knit, and also willing to help the business out whenever possible.
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