A young business has many avenues for growth. A smaller team makes a company easier to manage for a startup, but it also makes it more crucial to make sure employees are satisfied with the team. After all, a company—especially a startup—is only as good as its employees.
Startups are an exciting training ground for young professionals with amazing potential. Because working in a small business further necessitates teamwork and camaraderie, an effective employer must apply important principles to keep employees engaged and motivated.
Encourage Health and Fitness
This may seem better as an afterthought, but employees who are fit and healthy are happier and more productive. These are the kind of people who will be more willing to show up for work and bring their best to the table.
Look at your work structure and schedule. Do they allow for a proper work-life balance? Are your employees assigned a reasonable amount of tasks daily? These are a couple of factors that affect employee satisfaction.
It may also be good to have office fitness sessions, in which you can have one or two days in the week when you take exercise classes together. These do not only encourage fitness but also build friendships among employees. And if you have people who like working together, work becomes less of a chore and more of a pleasure to do.
Due to the pandemic, employees have also become more conscious of their personal health. Help address these concerns by stocking up your office pantry with a healthy selection of food and drinks. A water delivery service for the workplace is a simple touch that signals care for employee wellbeing.
When employees see the emphasis on health in the workplace, it also makes it easier for them to stay healthy.
Focus on Skills Development
Hiring competent employees is vital to the success of a startup. While they are in your company, they should also have ample growth opportunities. Know your employees and find out the best methods to help them develop their skills.
Attend workshops and seminars.
Encourage growth by letting them attend courses and classes that enhance their industry knowledge and skill set. Look out for organizations that host workshops or invite an expert to give a talk to your team. Provide incentives for participation and see how their newfound knowledge can be applied to their work.
Use accessible resources.
Do you have books, articles, videos, or other materials to share with your team? These are usually free or cheap resources that do not take much time to digest. Even these little things can help your employees with their personal and professional growth.
You might also have employees willing to share their ideas and expertise. Invite the team to a discussion or an internal workshop to learn from each other and build team rapport.
Be in Conversation with Your Employees
You cannot have a good relationship without communication. This applies to professional relationships, too. A practiced open-door policy keeps employees willing to raise concerns and listen to feedback.
Verbalize recognition and correction.
Having expectations is a normal part of work. But when you set a standard of excellence, employees may also not always deliver the exact results you envisioned. When this occurs, speak with your team, but do not be too harsh.
Positive reinforcement is the best motivator in the workplace. That’s why it is important to reward the behavior you want to see in your staff.
Promotions and raises are a couple of ways to give well-performing employees recognition. While these are important, your staff also deserves to hear some validation for their accomplishments. Express gratitude for a job well done to let them know that their work is seen and appreciated.
You can also treat them, maybe by buying food for the office on one workday or giving them an early off. Showing appreciation need not be through big gestures. These sincere actions will tell your employees that their efforts are recognized in the workplace.
Ask them for feedback.
While you may have comments regarding how they should improve, employees have the unique position of living out the company’s culture and policies daily. Welcome feedback from them and reflect on their thoughts and ideas.
Most employees will not give their comments unless prompted, so make it a habit to ask. Take the time to hear their suggestions and learn how to improve programs, processes, and even casual get-togethers.
Employer-employee transparency avoids conflicts and fosters a healthy working environment. Employees are inspired to be active and productive workers when working conditions reveal genuine respect for them as individuals. Keep this in mind when you review your company culture.
