10 Tips for Engaged Staff
Last month I stumbled across this very cool list of points that you can add to your HR library to help your staff engage more with each other and the culture of the business.
- Give them a voice. Listen to them. Implement their ideas. Give them all the credit.
- Pay them fairly. To build a great culture, you have to have the basics in place. That means reasonable compensation and benefits. You don’t have to be at the top of the market. But if you try to create a culture of fun and miss the money part, it will appear disingenuous.
- Recognise and reward. Don’t just give them more cash. People want to feel valued. Ask them how they want to be recognised – you’ll be surprised at some of the answers.
- Offer opportunities for advancement. Most of your employees want to feel there is room to grow. Do they know the path? Have you written it down for them? Show them the way.
- Support out-of-the-box semantics. Stop with the fancy titles; they just build silos and internal competition. Our receptionist’s official title is ‘director of first impressions’ and my assistant is the ‘director of executive wrangling’.
- Infiltrate the workplace with fun. Decorate the place, put up photos, host dress-up days, plan fun events, and bring families to the party.
- Walk the talk. You are the leader, so act like it. Don’t expect others to execute on this one. You have to let your hair down, set the example, and join the party. Get out of your office.
- Send a handwritten note. And send it home. The way to make a real connection is not through email, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Put pen to paper, put card in envelope, add a real stamp, and put it in the mailbox.
- Create traditions. Buying a keg of beer this Friday night won’t change the culture. It takes commitment and long-term resolve. When you find something that works, keep doing it.
- Open your heart. Let everyone know that we are in this together. Be vulnerable. Share your successes and failures. In turn, they’ll fall on a sword for you.
Source: Inc Magazine http://bit.ly/GDv7HH
Justin is the Managing Director of Active Management, which he began January 2004. He offers coaching to businesses worldwide in everything from start up and design to marketing and sales systems. Justin also facilitates four Australian and New Zealand ‘fitness industry roundtables’ events, which allows him to see a huge cross section of business models.