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If you want your employees to stick around, you need to show them that you appreciate their work. If you don’t, they’ll become disgruntled and look for somebody else to provide them with gainful employment - not what you want.
Some leaders get into the habit of believing that the only way to get people to stick around is to raise their pay. But this is emphatically not true. Something as simple as the odd compliment here and there can make all the difference.
Here are some pointers for showing your employees that you appreciate them that won’t deplete the company coffers.
Take Them For A Coffee Once Per Month
Going for a coffee once a month might not sound like much, but it can make a difference. Head out of the office on a Wednesday lunchtime, grab them a drink of their choice, and enjoy some pleasant conversation. Please don’t make it all about work. Give them a chance to enjoy their whipped cream latte without having to worry about performance metrics.
Offer Them Gifts
Bosses have to be a little careful when it comes to giving employees gifts. You want to make sure that you do so in a sensitive way that doesn’t violate regulations. You also need to ensure that you don’t leave some employees feeling ticked off.
Vouchers are, in many ways, the perfect company gifts for employees. You show them that you care while allowing them to decide what precisely it is that they want. You’re not handing out cash, either, so it’s not just extra pay.
Celebrate Their Milestones
Employees put a lot of effort into their work, so it can be useful to celebrate their milestones. While workers love getting paid, they also want you to affirm and appreciate them when they do something for you. Reciprocity is vital.
Praise Colleagues Vocally
Don’t be afraid to talk about the achievements of your colleagues in meetings. Be vocal about what people have done and how they’re helping to build a better business. Publicly praising people can become a part of the culture, and something that everyone can enjoy with enough hard work and dedication.
Allow Employees To Work Flexibly
More than anything, employees want to be able to work flexibly. Being tied to their desks from 9 to 5 isn’t practical in the modern world. There are so many demands on people’s time that antiquated working practices aren’t popular anymore - if they ever were.
Ask Your Employees What They Want To Do For Fun
Your idea of what constitutes “fun” might be very different from that of your employees. Therefore, it is always a good idea to ask them what they’d like to do instead of relying on your instinct. You don’t want them to see you as “out of touch.”
Thank Your Coworkers In Person
Firing off an email saying thank you is a good thing to do. But it is even better to go up and talk to the coworker yourself. Tell them how much you appreciate their efforts.