If you’re reading the news, you’ve seen that Zappos, the world’s gift to fast shoe delivery with great customer service, is seeing long-time employees fly out the door en masse as the company institutes a a radical self-management system called Holacracy. Everyone knows that it costs money to hire and train new people, let’s make 2016 the year your team gets stronger, your company’s revenue increases, and everyone couldn’t be happier!
The trick to getting your team to deliver more is to making them feel their matters. Here are my tips:
Design a “Listen In” format for your employees. Is this a weekly meeting? A monthly meeting? A bagels and coffee morning discussion? A conference call? There’s no wrong answer – simply pick something that works with your company ulture. And then ask your employees to talk to you candidly. Ask questions and most importantly, spend more time listening than talking. There’s no one better than your team members to tell you what they feel is working and is not working. You can walk away with ideas about valuable initiatives to take action on.
Develop a rewards system. Like the Listen In with your team, a rewards system can be designed to meet your company’s needs. Is it simply a $20 gift card to Starbucks every month for the employee of the month? Or do you do something more long term – like have a Listen In, develop a strategy for change, and then reward your team with new promotions, either in title or financial or a combination of both as those changes are successfully implemented? Get creative. A rewards system can also include fun things like a bonus day off.
Encourage social media interaction. If your business has a heavy social media presence, encourage your team to share news items from your company’s Facebook and Twitter pages in order to promote positive attitudes and more business. This will unconsciously create unity and further strengthen morale amongst your team.
Address the personal lives of your team members. Take a poll. Figure out what your team wants to do that isn’t entirely related to work – maybe it’s to get healthy, lose weight, or volunteer more. Perhaps you can have colleagues buddy up with one another to take walks together on lunch breaks, cater healthy lunch Fridays for everyone, overhaul your pantry at work, or sign up for a group walkathon for a great charity. If they dream it, you can find a way to make it happen.
Take care of the people who work for you, and they will work for you longer and your business will thrive!
DASHA® Enterprises, LLC works with independent practices and servicing providers that offer an integrated holistic solution to reach your total body well-being. The “independent client providers” share our philosophy of total body health and work with us to bring you an all-inclusive experience.
DASHA® is a luxury lifestyle brand and New York City-based wellness center created to offer a truly holistic approach to wellness. To learn more, visit dashawellness.com.
