Generate Employee Loyalty with 4 Easy Tactics
Are your employees worth their salt If you�re looking to generate employee loyalty, you need to let them know that they are. Salt is not just a flavorful mineral that was once so valued it was worth its weight in gold. It is also a handy acronym that can remind you of the four key tactics for raising people�s self-esteem and letting them know just how much you value their presence on your team.
Sing Their Praises
Many employees toil away and wonder if their bosses even notice how much they are contributing. Even worse, some work long, hard hours only to be thrown under the bus when a supervisor or colleague has made a mistake and is trying to save face. Let your employees know that you notice and appreciate their efforts, even when the results are imperfect.
Praising a staff member directly is a great way to generate employee loyalty, but if you really want to go the extra mile try praising them to someone else. Draw attention to excellent work during a staff meeting or tell a colleague how impressed you were by another�s presentation. If your praise is sincere, your employees will feel greater pride in their work and instead of getting burned out will rise to new heights.
Admire Their Taste and Talents
Another way to generate employee loyalty is to express admiration for your staff. Admiration is slightly different than praise. Praise is a reward for hard work and an employee�s best effort. For it to be most impactful, it should be specific. Instead of simply telling someone that they�ve done a good job, praise their persistence in finding a solution to a tricky problem or their eloquence in a public speech.
Praise acknowledges effort. Admiration is more convivial and can be quite casual. You might admire a staffer�s new shoes or a fashionable accessory. You could admire their car or their choice of d�cor for the company Christmas party. You can also admire less tangible things, such as their quick wit or compassion. Praising an employee lets them know you value their work. Admiring them lets them know you value them as a person.
Listen to Problems, Solutions and Ideas
To be a good leader, you must learn to listen. Be available when your employees have a concern or a new idea. Put down your phone, turn away from your computer and give them your full attention. If you�re in the middle of a task and can�t turn away, let them know that you want to continue the conversation when you can really focus, and schedule time for them just as you would for an important client. This kind of respect is essential if you want to generate employee loyalty.
Hear them out even if you�re inclined to disagree, and seek to really understand their position before trying to change it. You don�t have to act on every idea that comes across your desk, but by allowing employees to speak freely you�ll have a better sense of how things are running in the office and you won�t miss a good idea that someone was too intimidated to share.
If an employee must be the bearer of bad news, don�t shoot the messenger. Express your appreciation that they have notified you of the situation, and make them feel good about bringing it to your attention so you can address it. Managers who get angry every time there�s a problem don�t reduce the number of problems, they only convince their employees of the need to hide those problems at all costs.
Thank Every Chance You Get
Some bosses feel that a paycheck is the only reward an employee needs. While a paycheck may be the primary reason your staff show up in the morning, it is not sufficient to generate employee loyalty. Remember, everyone has to work, but they don�t have to work for you. Thank your employees for being on time in the morning and for filing paperwork efficiently. Thank them for picking up the break room and making a new colleague feel welcome. Let them know that even when they are just doing their job, you appreciate that they are doing it to the best of their ability. Each expression of gratitude gives employees a small boost that can carry them through the challenges of the day. It also inspires them to continue the great work that you so vocally appreciate.
By singing your employees� praises, admiring them, listening to their problems and thanking them for their efforts, you can generate employee loyalty and create a thriving work environment. Because their contributions are noticed and appreciated, your staff will give you their b