In case you missed it, last week I went through part one of the “what your people need” journey. I couldn’t possibly leave it with just 5, although they are all really great and incredibly important, there are other things that need to be taken into consideration if you want to retain your top performers in your business. So without further delay, let’s get into the second 5 of the top 10 things your employees need to be more satisfied in their work/job. 

Respect

I mean Aretha said it best here, but for real, it is so important to show respect and decency to your team. Respect at its most basic just lets people know that they are valued, and that you appreciate them. When people feel valued and appreciated, they will be more loyal and engaged in their work. Sounds too easy, right? A simple way to show respect to your team is to ask their opinions. If you’re considering updating a process or changing something that will affect your team, ask them how they feel about it before making the decision and delivering it. That doesn’t mean you need to take every suggestion your team gives you, but involving them in the process is empowering and will leave your people feeling valued.

Recognition 

With respect comes recognition, you’d be surprised at the power a thank you can have. To properly recognize your team, however, it takes more than a thank you. Recognition for a job well done also helps people solidify how they fit into the organization and the bigger picture. This helps to create a mentality of longevity and security with the organization. When they don't feel like a disposable asset they will work much harder. You should work with your HR to make sure you have set up solid recognition programs and have processes in place to make sure your team is receiving regular feedback recognizing their accomplishments. 

Believe in The Company Mission/Leadership

So this is going to go back to the consistent communication piece from the last blog, the first step to getting your team on board with your mission and leadership team is to make sure you consistently communicate the mission and company goals with the team. The team needs to be able to trust their leadership team and the goals they’ve set for the company. If people are not in alignment with their leadership team or their company’s mission they will work for their paycheck until the day they leave. The company’s that have people in alignment with their messaging will demonstrate it by having a large percentage of their team that has been with them for years. 

Opportunities for Growth

When people come to work for you they need to know that if they give you years, that you’ll have years to give them as well. That means they believe there will be opportunities to grow in their position, make more money, and create the connections that will help them further their professional self. Knowing there is opportunity for growth makes a team more fulfilled in their work. This can be more difficult for smaller companies, but a good way to continue to grow your people, even if you don’t have the additional positions, is to invest in them. Invest in their education or trainings to help them further their career. 

Flexibility 

As I mentioned before, these are in no particular order, because they are all important. But flexibility is one that has been important to people for a long time, but has become increasingly important in a post COVID world. COVID slowed us all down and helped us realize what is really important and what we value in our lives. Jobs that are willing to offer flexibility so people don’t feel like working robots that wake up, drop kids off, work all day, pick kids up, make dinner, clean house, do bath and bedtime, and then are too exhausted to do anything for themselves will ultimately win out over companies that are going to try to keep the traditional 8-5 business. Remind yourself that at the end of the day all that really matters is that the job gets done, even if it isn’t in traditional work hours. 

So there we have it… the top ten things your team needs from you to create a culture they will work hard to be a part of. Don’t forget that a happy and fulfilled workforce is also your best marketing to recruit additional talent. So treat your people well, not just because it will help your company operate more efficiently, but because it’s just the right thing to do. I love culture conversations, so whether yours is great or needs some work I’d love to connect to hear all about it. You can also follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn for updates or you can sign up for my newsletter below!