A top 10 list of how to ensure your employees feel valued
In today’s increasingly ambiguous work environment, employers need to do more than provide compensation and perks to make employees feel appreciated. As a manager one of your most important responsibilities is making your employees feel truly valued, letting them know that without them, your company, your department—and frankly, you—would be worse off. Here is our 10 ways to ensure your employees always feel valued within the work place.
1. Say thank you – Sounds obvious, but a simple thank you goes a long way and is a small reminder that you acknowledge their hard work
2. Say please – This sounds like a given, but politely asking an employee to carry out a task will get a much better response than ordering them to do it
3. Organise a regular social event – This doesn’t have to be weekly or even monthly; a quarterly or biannual event that takes place around the same time each year gives staff something to look forward to
4. Challenge them – Challenging employees within their routine tasks to deliver a higher quality output, or tackle a problem and take up more responsibilities can make a big difference. By challenging an employee you give them an element of your trust, which leads to faith that they can overcome whatever you throw at them.
5. Reward them – Frequent rewards will make an employee feel that their work has gone above and beyond what is expected. The reward does not have to be of monetary value, but simply an act or gift that says ‘well done’
6. Place trust in them – Building a culture of transparency and placing trust in employees can make them feel more connected
7. Have clear progression strategies – People tend to feel unappreciated when they are working hard but can’t see their career heading in any direction. Providing that direction helps people keep on track for their targets and feel like you believe in them
8. Ask your co-workers about themselves – Questions and acknowledgements about family, their hobby, their weekend or a special event they attended are always welcome. Your genuine interest – as opposed to being nosey – causes people to feel valued and cared about
9. Praise something your co-worker has done well – Identify the specific actions that you found admirable. This praise feels sincere since you took the time to spell out the details
10. Provide opportunity – Many people want chances for training and cross-training. They want to participate on a special committee where their talents are noticed. They like to attend professional association meetings and represent your organisation at civic and philanthropic events.
