Let’s say you’re a small business owner who’s lucky or smart enough to have employees who are engaged. That’s pretty rare: Last year, results of Gallup polls in the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere said that only 30 percent of U.S. workers are “enthusiastic about and committed to” their jobs!
If your employees are in the 30 percent, can you just relax and enjoy? Not quite. Instead you need to be taking steps to create an even more dynamic work environment. Engaged employees are great. But employees who are excited are fabulous and will help take your business to new levels.
Entrepreneur.com agrees and says even the smartest business strategy is nothing without the right kind of talent to carry it out. Excited employees have a sense of ownership and contribute tirelessly to making the business a success. Contributor and Adecco Staffing VP Nichole Spaight offers ways to create a culture that excites and entices:
- Make it flexible. Work-life balance is a real priority.
- Give back. Allow the freedom to be involved in greater purposes.
- Be accessible. Interacting with leadership is a real perk in smaller businesses.
- Share your plans for growth. Detail training and career path opportunities.
- Share the wealth. There’s no incentive like a piece of the pie like profit sharing.
- Small, but frequent (monthly or quarterly) rewards. Very simple, but these things mean a lot.
Employees who are excited about work are made, not born. Sure, individuals come with inherently different levels of energy and engagement. But their eight-plus-hours-a-day environment will determine whether they will feel the kind of excitement that will light up the room and make the business soar.
The Journal of Accountancy says this is like when we were kids: Life was full of possibilities and little pleasures were a big deal! Getting here means creating teamwork and momentum. The camaraderie and energy generated will radiate outward to everyone (like prospects and customers) who comes into contact with your business. Could there be any more effective form of marketing?
Here are nine ways to make your business more exciting by adding some freshness and fun to every day:
- Look for new ideas and skills, new ways of thinking and doing.
- Roll out something new, and involve your employees at every stage.
- Integrate your brand and your culture; make sure your values—e.g., creativity, energy, thinking outside the box—are consistent and consistently reinforced.
- Your logo needs to be an authentic representation of your business’s style. Leverage it with employees, too.
- Take a break with team building. The unusual, the out-of-the-ordinary are hugely energizing.
- Boost your presence. Receiving copies of ads, guest blog posts or media articles about the business creates a real sense of pride and excitement for employees.
- Your real sales force? Your customers. Involve your employees in thanking them, asking for referrals and rewarding the very loyal. Excitement builds as your sphere of influence expands.
- Regularly show your employees you value them. Take them to a meeting or luncheon. Provide unexpected rewards—pizza on Friday, chocolate on Valentine’s Day. Ask their opinions on things that matter.
- Don’t underestimate the power of the element of surprise—both with employees and customers. Appreciation comes in many forms—and is the sweetest when it’s completely unexpected!
Image courtesy of jesadaphorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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