01 Mar Connecting With Your Employees
The workplace is changing. As older generations retire, new generations are hired who have their own beliefs and values that are different than those of generations before them. While this changes organizational values, the one thing that stays the same is that everyone desires affirmation – feeling like they belong where they work.
Research tells us that with the shift in today’s work force, to keep employees loyal you need to keep them engaged. To keep employees engaged, it is important to provide recognition and demonstrate that each and every employee is valued within the company and appreciated for their contribution.
Work incentives have shifted from solely financial towards emotional – employees are becoming more focused on matters of organizational culture, work-life balance, and social ties. So while financial incentives are still important, it is just one of many ways to effectively recognize effort and value.
There are a number of practices to show employees that they are appreciated by their employer that will allow you to connect with your employees and build loyalty:
Be Present
It is important that leaders be present in the workplace and participate actively as part of the team, from regular meetings to attending onsite celebrations. As busy as most leaders are, it is important to set aside the time to ensure employees see you as a person.
Be Timely
Give employees feedback as soon as possible, whether positive or negative. The longer it takes to provide input, the less powerful the link between the behaviour – and possible reward or reprimand – becomes.
Be Authentic
It is important to speak with sincerity rather than mechanically to demonstrate value to an employee – when you mean it, they will feel it.
Teach Balance
Leaders need to demonstrate healthy work-life balance for their employees. When employees feel burned out by their jobs, they are less likely to be productive team members or even stick around. Demonstrating balance is more than the numbers of hours worked – sometimes it needs to involve taking time away from work to enjoy team outings where you can all connect and recharge.
Assign Challenges
Giving employees the opportunity to accomplish a project or assignment that is outside their regular responsibilities, can help demonstrate that they are trusted and you have faith in their abilities.
Personalize
Everyone desires to be valued based on their individual traits and contributions. So, the way you approach each employee should feel like a unique encounter. Even when employees are part of a team, it is important to remember that each individual is not interchangeable.
YOU DESERVE MORE THAN YOU THINK®
If you would like to learn more about connecting with your employees, or other HR issues, please contact Lori Brudlo, Senior HR & Technology Advisor – [email protected].