“My Employees Know I Appreciate Them”…But Do They?

You appreciate your employees and know they’re a valuable asset. But are you regularly telling them, or just assuming they understand that? 

If it’s the latter, it’s a dangerous mistake many bosses make. They think just because they’re not giving out negative feedback; their employees are aware of how much they’re appreciated. In reality, when employees don’t feel like their managers notice their hard work, they start to get disengaged and dissatisfied.

Some signs this could be happening at your company include:

• A loss of interest and morale. Your employees seem depleted and less-than-enthusiastic about their work. This is because they know no matter what they do, you’re not going to notice or appreciate it.
• A resistance to change. The business environment is fast-paced, and you need to be agile to keep up with it. But when employees are resistant to change and implementing new ideas, it could be because they’re apathetic. 
• Less productivity. When employees aren’t as motivated or cooperative, then productivity is eventually going to take a hit. Likewise, there might be more conflict on your team, requiring time out of your day to deal with it. Also, mistakes are more likely to occur, which can impact the whole team and company, too.

Higher turnover. Some turnover is average and even healthy as it allows you to bring in fresh faces with new ideas. However, if you’re starting to experience higher-than-average turnover, it’s a sign employees aren’t happy. 

So how do you turn things around? It’s simple, really. Just say, thank you. Giving timely, informal praise whenever an employee does something of value or makes a significant contribution will go a long way in boosting their job satisfaction. This all translates into higher productivity, increased retention, and a stronger, healthier team overall. 

When you don’t regularly do this, it can seem hard at first to make it a habit. But when you’re used to open communication and giving pats on the back, it will quickly become like second nature. The trick is to take the first step and start. 

One way to do that is to commit to quick meetings each week with your staff members. These can be casual, lasting just a few minutes. But during them, you should focus on what the employee is working on and questions or concerns they have, as well as recognizing any significant efforts they’ve made that week. 

Even better, when you start recognizing your employees more, you can have a hugely beneficial impact on the company without buying expensive gifts or offering pricey perks. All you have to do is get into the habit of thanking your people. 

Ready to hire people you’re grateful to have?

Turn to the team at Gill Staffing. As one of Holland, MI’s leading staffing agencies, we have an expansive candidate network – filled with skilled, talented professionals – to help you hire great people you’re grateful for. Contact us today to learn more or get started.