Your business is only as good as the people you have working for you. Have you ever heard that statement before? It couldn’t be more accurate, and it’s something that more business owners should focus on.
There are little things you can do that will keep your employees happy, which then contributes to them being more productive at work. More productivity equals more output, which then translates into more business and revenue for your business.
Here are just a few simple suggestions that can help you maintain a happy workforce, and a team of productive employees, according to the experts at Jason D. Mills & Associates.
Introduce Contests
People are competitive by nature. So, when you announce a contest, be ready for everyone to want to win, no matter what the prize is, if any.
For a sales team, for example, you can set goals and milestones to hit and the first person to reach it can be given a prize. They don’t have to be too crazy either. You can also make a special section of the office, with comfortable seating or other comforts, and allow the winner to work from that area for the week. Even if you don’t have the skills to transform your office, you can find a contractor that can make the improvements.
Even if it’s just a trophy the winner keeps at his or her desk — people just love competitions.
Publicly Acknowledge Great Work
When someone on your team does great work, let everyone know. By doing this it has two impacts. It lets that employee know that you appreciate them and that makes them want to work harder. Also, it shows the other employees that you are paying attention and they will then work harder in an effort to receive that same recognition.
“Sometimes just letting everyone know when someone does something great is all it takes to get your entire staff working hard,” offers Chris Moberg of Slumber Search.
Host Team Building Lunches
People love food. They will do crazy things to get it sometimes. Now, if you make it a habit to bring in lunch for everyone when things are going well or when certain goals are hit, you will see everyone work hard to make sure it continues happening.
“Bringing lunch to the office every now and then is an easy way to keep the energy high and everyone working to their best abilities,” says Darryl Howard of NuWays MD. There are plenty of local low cost options available. You don’t have to break the bank.
It’s a nice reward that is appreciated and your team will work hard to make sure is something they receive on a regular basis.
Random Gift Cards of Kindness
What if you walked up to an employee and handed them a $100 gift card to their favorite place to eat? What would happen? They would appreciate it more than you can imagine.
“Sometimes handing a gift card to an employee ‘just because’ will make their day,” suggests Henk Schipper of Jaloezieen Fabriek. “It shows them you care.”
Not only will they think it’s great, but they will tell co-workers. And they will want the same, so they will start to put in more effort almost instantly. Everyone loves to be rewarded for their efforts and sometimes you don’t need a specific reason to do so.
