Do you have a proven formula for inspiring your employees?
At many small businesses, it is a known fact that teamwork is what keeps the company going day after day.
Unlike bigger companies that oftentimes have one person in a single role, smaller businesses will typically ask employees to take on more than one role, sometimes three or four. As a result, some employees may feel burned out before all is said and done.
With that being the case, it is important for small business employers to do all they can to find ways to inspire their employees.
So, do you inspire your employees for better performances?
Giving Workers Reasons to Succeed
So that your small business can get the most out of your workers without burning them out, keep these pointers in mind:
- Rewards – First and foremost, are your properly rewarding your employees for all the time and effort they give you on a regular basis? Sure, they should be thanking you for employing them in the first place (especially given what has been a tough job market in recent years). That said you likely would not be in business in the first place were it not for the hard work and dedication of the team under you. Always make sure you are paying your workers competitive wages, along with offering healthcare benefits (if deemed necessary by the laws governing which businesses must do so). While many small businesses have to run on tight budgets, do your best to give your employees the opportunity to succeed at your company, not just make it a stopover on the way to a better opportunity. You should also offer those qualified employees the opportunity for advancement within the company when possible. Having such incentives dangling over their heads can prove beneficial for both them and you;
- Examples – If you’re having a little trouble getting some or all of your employees motivated, have you thought about turning outside for assistance? It is not uncommon (especially for smaller businesses) to use company bonding opportunities as a way to better motivate some or all of the team. If that’s the case with your company, look at turning to motivational speakers on occasion. Such speakers can oftentimes be found at major networking events, so don’t fret if you feel like they may be too expensive or not have the time to come and talk to your small business. Hearing from such speakers can help your team not only become more motivated, but actually look to see how their present efforts are helping (perhaps even hurting the business) and where there is room for improvement. You may be surprised when all is said and done how attending just one such event or having a speaker come to your business can change the outlook of one or more employees;
- Competition – Lastly, show them what the competition is doing in terms of improving its brand on a regular basis. For example, you might be running a small newspaper business in town, all the while going up against a daily in the same location. While it may seem all but impossible with the size of your staff to compete with the “big boys” on a regular basis, you in turn can do just that if everyone puts their minds to it. Yes, you might need your team to work twice as hard, but they will be all better for it when they do, seeing that their efforts accomplished just as much if not more than the competition.
Inspiring one’s employees can be tricky at times, sometimes even downright challenging.
That said it is important as a small business owner that you always do whatever it takes to get the most out of your employees.
Whether that is doing everything possible in-house to achieve that goal or even reaching outside for a little motivational help, the stakes are too high not to try everything at your disposal.
When you focus on making everyone on the team (yourself included) a better employee, good things typically happen.
Look for inspiration within and outside your office today, reaping the rewards as soon as tomorrow.
About the Author: Dave Thomas covers small business topics on the web.