If you are a new employer you need to be prepared to go on a fast learning curve. Employing people is often far more difficult that is first thought. A happy workforce can be hard to maintain but it is essential that you learn how to keep your employees smiling and confident while they are working for you.
If you fail to do so you will not have a productive workforce behind you giving the vital support that is required to make any business a success.
1. Inspiring and Motivating
You as an employer need to have the skills to both inspire and motivate your team. Whether you have one employee or ten you must find ways of reaching out to each and every one of them. Need some help on where to start? Use these tips from the professionals that will provide the perfect springboard for your new role as a motivational employer.
2. It’s Not All About the Money
You may think that paying your employees a decent wage is all that you need to get good work from them. Sadly it’s not as easy as that. You have to provide other incentives that will drive them on such as providing a great working environment, giving them new opportunities to grow personally and professionally, showing their worth and being open to praising them and recognising their ideas.
In a time when it might not be possible to offer cash incentives you need to be much more open to new ideas. Time off, fun activities, new equipment or the latest software, positive feedbacks, they all help.
3. Be a Role Model
It’s always a good idea to inspire your own employees through your actions and behaviour. If you are able to remain professional, reach high standards and a good level of success while staying grounded, funny and a pleasure to be around then you will be pretty much sorted out on the inspirational front.
You cannot make your employees feel that you think you are above them, treat them as equals and make it clear that you appreciate everything that they do for you during working hours.
4. Support Their Career Choices
You should do everything you can to help them build a successful career. This isn’t all about your business the individual will have their own personal goals. If you invest in training and provide support and advice your company will benefit from it. Dramatic solutions can train up your employees building their skillsets and their confidence. Be prepared to invest in further education too or offer the chance for your team to gain valuable qualifications while working for you.
5. Demand Excellence but Don’t Be a Hard Task Master
There is nothing wrong with expecting the best from your employees but you have to give something back to them in return. Consider their personal health and stress levels and recognise that the business is your baby and not theirs; they should be able to go home at a decent time and switch off.
The author is a freelance copywriter and owner of a small business. She employees three fellow writers and recognises the need to be an excellent motivator to get the best from each individual. She writes articles offering advice to small business owners and has produced thousands in the past couple of years of her career.
