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You might be a team of two or you might be responsible for ten or more employees, but as the boss, what are the best ways to lead and motivate your staff? Here are 12 suggestions:
1. Be flexible
Allow employees to work more flexible hours so they have greater opportunity to enjoy their social or family life - flexi-time encourages a life outside work.
2. Personal touch
Recognise employee efforts both individually and personally - perhaps in a handwritten letter rather than an email. If you, as the boss, write a personal note to a staff member, the message you will send out is that you value that individual and their work.
3. Office fun
Don't be afraid to make the office an enjoyable and fun place to work. This could mean allowing music in the office, games to be played or even having a pool table installed. Socialising can help raise the level of work achieved, as employees enjoy themselves rather than watch the clock. But remember the responsibility you have towards staff. You'll find more information on Employer Liability on this website.
4. Reward good effort
Reward effort as well as success, and you will communicate that you recognise the time and work the team has put into a particular project. As a result you can create a culture of innovation and teamwork.
5. Health and celebration
Bring fruit into the office as an afternoon snack to share. This will bring employees together and show that you care about their diet. Alternatively, cake and biscuits can also boost staff morale and be used to celebrate birthdays and special occasions.
6. Community action
Support community action and social responsibility projects and initiatives, perhaps by matching funds raised by staff with a donation from the business. This will signal that you value your employee's efforts to assist the local community, while fostering a team atmosphere.
7. Family minded
Celebrate birthdays, births and even anniversaries with cards, flowers and gifts to show that you recognise your staff members' family lives. Invite spouses and partners to company events and social gatherings, and you could boost your staff loyalty. But remember, if you do this you will need to be seen to treat people fairly.
8. Home working
Allowing staff to work from home periodically will give them more social time, and can even help them to be more productive. The change of scene is beneficial and many employees will value the opportunity to skip the daily commute once in a while.
9. Thank you
Thank your staff for what they do, and also when they go beyond the call of duty. It can pay dividends. Also, be specific about what you really liked, so they feel appreciated and can repeat the action in the future.
10. Personalities
Make an effort to work out the personalities of your workforce and try to see what motivates each employee, according to their personality. Some people love public praise while others hate it and would prefer a sincere and low-key 'thank you'. Some would like to receive a gift in acknowledgement of the special work they do, and for others, a cash bonus does the trick.
11. Train to gain
Find out what skills your staff would like to have - which areas they would like to grow in. This could be a specific application skill, or perhaps assertiveness training or how to give presentations. If you help employees to learn and grow, you will raise the quality of your staff and benefit the business.
12. Career ladder
Help your team with their career goals, and ask how they are enjoying their current roles. Find out what they enjoy doing, and what they're hoping to do in the future. Part of the exercise is to allow the employee to feel they are being heard, but it will also help you to fit the right peg into the right hole in a way that will benefit the business. Meanwhile, you will build loyalty and motivation.
Related information:
Dealing with staff - how to recruit the best staff for your business and keep them happy in their roles.
Employer liability - find out more about your obligations as an employer.
Free legal advice - about the free services available to our business insurance policyholders.
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