Employees who have been pushed to the point where they no longer care, will not go the extra mile.—Brigette Hyacinth
Did you know that Gallup research found that 70% of an employee’s motivation is influenced by their boss?
We’ve shared stories before about why boss/employee relationships are critical, but the 70% statistic for motivating staff was higher than we expected. We’ve also shared tips for improving relationships and for creating loyalty in the workplace, but author Brigette Hyacinth provides even more:
1. Connect with staff – Make your presence felt. Get to know your employees.
2. Show employees that you genuinely care. Show empathy when they have problems. Advocate for your team. Stand up for them when things go wrong.
3. Practice Open and Honest two-way Communication. Keep employees informed. Listen. Have an atmosphere where employees’ ideas and suggestions are valued and acted on.
4. Be fair and neutral. Treat everyone fairly. Lead by example. Be known as a person of integrity.
5. Empower Employees. Provide them with the proper tools, give them room to get the job done. Don’t micromanage!
6. Reward and Recognition – Offer incentives. Show employees how much you value and appreciate them. Reward staff for good work, be generous with “Thank Yous.”
7. Recommend employees for training and new opportunities. Acknowledge and encourage strengths, recognize different skills, and provide training and development opportunities.
How often have you heard “employees are your most valuable asset”? It’s said often because it’s true, however if the employee feels that this is a hollow statement, loyalty and commitment will be lacking.
Hyacinth concludes by saying “you can’t buy loyalty, but you can certainly foster and nurture it”.
No argument from us!
Employee loyalty begins with employer loyalty. Your employees should know that if they do the job they were hired to do with a reasonable amount of competence and efficiency, you will support them.–Harvey Mackay