How to Put Your Employees First

Companies are dependent on the performance of their employees to excel.  It can be very hard to motivate people to work towards the achievement of your company goals.  So how can you treat your employees to motivate them to give the company the very best?

Build a culture where employees come first 

Every decision made should be made with the employees in mind. If you have this culture, then you will automatically treat your employee’s rights. The management will also make decisions that influence employees positively. 

Define the roles of the employees and the vision and the value of the company 

Employees need to understand the purpose of the job that they do.  You should also make sure that you clearly define the role that the employees play to the overall goal of the organization.  People always want to feel that they are part of something special, so you should also identify how your company is different and special from the rest in the market. 

Build your employees

Every employee has needs and you need to meet their needs where possible.  Take time to know your employees so that you understand what motivates them.  Once you have an understanding of what motivates your employees, work towards building them up. 

Your employees need to know the financial performance of the company

 A lot of employers would want their employees to think like the owners of the company but they cannot think like owners of the company if they do not understand how the company operates and performs.  If you share this information with your employees they will understand the company better and they will also understand the role that they have to play to improve the company. 

The remuneration of the employees should be fair

Employees offer you a service for a fee.  How much you appreciate them can also be seen by how much you pay them. Once you have shared the figures that you make, you need to make sure that you pay your employees well. When the employees feel that you are making a lot of money but you are not paying them well, then they will not work as hard as they should.  Also, as the company grows you should evaluate the pay that you pay your employees.  Finally, there should be equity in the remuneration technique that you use. 

Equip your employees with the tools required for them to excel

A lot of employees struggle to get their job done because they do not have the required tools.  If you provide them with the tools required to carry out different tasks then it is a show of care.  Your employees will achieve more and enjoy their work.

Offer your employees independence. They should act in an autonomous way.  Do not supervise your employees all the time. You need to trust them and show them that you have respect for their skills and you trust their abilities. 

Get employee feedback on a regular basis

You can never understand your employees if you do not hear from them. Also, the mere fact that you are collecting feedback means that you care about them. Once you have collected feedback, you should work on what the employee’s sight as problems.  People tend to be motivated to work when they feel that their employers are interested in their opinion.

Always recognize the work of your employees

Appreciate the efforts that your employees make.  Ensure that you approach every employee who performs well and thank them for their efforts.  

In case there is a disagreement between your employee and any other stakeholder of the company, support your employee. Customers are always right but the people working for you determine the success of the company significantly.  So you should always support them when need be.

Conclusion

Employees are an important part of every organization.  They ensure that the company is running even without the presence of the owner of the company.  It is important to appreciate your employees because it has a direct influence on the way that they perform their duties. There are different ways that you can show appreciation for your employees. The article indicates some simple techniques that you should utilize to show your employees appreciation.

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The Employee First Culture – and why it works like a charm

Customers are powerful, that’s right. And more so in this age of online shopping and disruptive services that have created firm conformity to customer-centricity and personalization. But the modern business scene is changing fast, which calls for forward-thinking business leaders to come up with new analogies and solutions. Today’s workforce is much more attuned to ethical practices and positive workplace culture. Given that employees spend about 33% of their time at your workplace, they need an environment that is supporting, motivating, respectful, and rewarding. This article explores the employee first culture that’s taking root across America, and how it can be immensely rewarding.

1. It helps you stay ahead

Technology has turned the world into one small global village. Competition is fiercer than ever – in every sector. Customers have an enormous choice when it comes to buying the right products and services. To stand out from the crowd, you need to draw on the full potential of your workforce. You need ideas, innovation, and more so trust to stay ahead of the competition. There’s no better way do to this than to put your workers first. When employees feel that they are valued members of a community, they tend to give their very best.

You can foster an employee-first culture by listening to your workers and bringing them to the decision-making process. You’ll need trust on both sides in order to achieve this. When there’s trust, employees know that you value them, and will be comfortable voicing their genuine ideas about products, services, and the company’s future.

2. It motivates employees to go the extra mile

Research carried out by recruitment firm HAYS shows that 71% of Americans would allow a pay cut if it meant securing their ideal job. Clearly, motivation is not all about money. People spend so much of their waking life at work and all they want is to have a rewarding, fulfilling job. When your employees know that they are acknowledged and valued, they feel connected to the company’s vision and mission. They’ll be willing to go to great lengths on behalf of the company.

Leadership support is key to motivating your workforce. In fact, 91% of workers say that they feel motivated to give their best when leadership support is present. That’s according to a study carried out by the American Psychological Association.

3. It lowers staff turnover

Each time an employee leaves, it takes up to 33% of their annual salary to find a replacement. That’s according to a study carried out by the Work Institute. But that’s not all. Whenever you lose a talented employee, you’re losing all the experience that they have mastered, as well as their skill level. The real cost of staff turnover can be costly. Putting employees first is perhaps the best way to retain the top talent that your organization needs to be successful. Employees who do feel that their jobs have meaning exhibit a higher level of loyalty. And this is more so true for younger workers. By fostering mutual respect in the workplace, and showing your team that you care about them, you’ll be feeding directly into your vision, mission, and values.

4. It’s a precursor for great customer service

Companies that treat employees well attract higher levels of loyalty and customer service. Highly engaged employees that are equipped with the tools to enact change have the psychological freedom they need to deliver exceptional service. Whenever they approach each customer, they don’t feel tied up to strict governing rules. They feel they have the company’s trust to engage their experience and interpersonal skills so they can fulfill the needs of every customer. That kind of takes us to the ‘customer is always right’ mantra. If you put employees first, then they’ll put your customers first. It’s that simple.

Conclusion

Employees are your #1 most valuable resource. And yet – so many companies fail to enact fair and equal treatment in the workplace. When you ignore or treat employees poorly, there’s so much that could go wrong. Your staff turnover could shoot up, leading to financial loss as well as invaluable losses in terms of skill and experience. Motivated employees will treat your customers right and help your business grow. But the opposite is also true. However much you sing the ‘customers is always right’ song, nothing is ever going to come out of it if you do not make your employees happy first.

What tips do you use to keep your employees happy, motivated, and engaged? Share with us.

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