Keeping Employees Happy

It used to be that you only had to worry about keeping your customers happy. It just isn’t that easy anymore. As small business owners, it is so important to also keep your employees happy. By keeping them happy, you are building trust and security in the respect and performance that your employees not only give you, but give your customers, as well. Not only do they represent your business to your customers, but often they represent your business to your vendors and competition. They know the ins and outs, ups and downs of what goes on at your company, so you want to make sure that they are happy with working for you.

When hiring employees and managing employees, there are a few things to consider that can help keep your business growing and thriving.

1. Give respect to your employees the same way you expect respect from them. This means that you should give them praise when deserved, allow for time off when needed and understand that they won’t always do things right. By recognizing that while they may be great at their job most of the time, you also need to respect that everyone makes mistakes.

2. Work may be the leading force in your life, but that doesn’t mean it’s the leading force in your employees lives. Understand that your employees have personal lives that matter to them, therefore they should matter to you. You don’t need to be best buds and know all about their Friday night out, but you should respect that they need and want to have a Friday night out!

3. Let your employees  be leaders. As much as it can be fun to always be the boss, it’s also fun to let go of some responsibilities. If you find the trust you are looking for in an employee, give them the direction to be leaders. As their responsiblities grow, it’s likely their attachment to your business will grow, too – assuming you are respecting them along the way. Just don’t micromanage.

4. Belittle be gone. No one likes to feel underneath someone else. Never, ever disrespect your employees in any way. They know you are the boss. Why remind them with belittling words? Of course, we expect you to give direction and clear supervision in running your business. Just do so nicely.

Finally, throughout your hiring and managing and sometimes firing of employees, try to earn trust and respect every step of the way. This will create loyalty to you and your business, therefore creating a stronger representation of your business to customers, vendors and all else who walk into your professional world. As a result? More sales and more success!