subject: Keeping Good Company [print this page] Owning your business entails a wide variety of jobs, all of which we cannot handle on our own. So, we hire a team to help us. These employees are often thought of as merely numbers and time cards, especially in large companies where faces blend with the crowd. But thats not the way a team should work. The last thing you want is to lose a star player because they felt they werent fitting in with your business machine.
Keeping your team together takes more than a boss, it takes a coach that is going to treat employees like members of a team.
Education
Would you toss an untrained employee in a room full of paperwork and expect them to get the job done? Education is a vital part of employment, especially since every business will run things a little differently. But, education shouldnt stop after initial training. Business is forever changing as it adapts to the economy. Large companies constantly train their employees with fresh information and refresh old lessons. While not all of our business is overwhelming in size (although it feels like it when youre the boss), we need to take the time to make sure our employees are up-to-date with their work habits and training. It helps keep a team working together and always improving their ways.
Keep in touch
Provide feedback to your team regardless of how their working. Ive seen far too many situations in which employees think theyve done something wrong when theyve been asked to come to office (a lot of times theyre right). Keep a good relationship with them by having one-on-one meetings with your team members. Talk to them about what they think is going on, and ask them if they enjoy working with you and the team. It helps them to understand they arent just another number in the business. They appreciate the fact that they have a voice and that you are always willing to listen.
Keep business balanced
While there is going to be the usual boring part of work, it is still important to keep projects fun for the employees. Not everything can be the most intriguing work situation, but it is important that there is still a sense of quality in their work. Try making things a little entertaining with the spice of competition. Dont be afraid to toss in some interesting changes or new ideas. This would be where keeping in touch with your employees will work well. Ask them for some ideas. After all, they are a part of your team.
Show your appreciation for a job well-done
Its common for folks to scold when something is wrong or nod a simple approval when a job is done right. All that teaches a person is that if they do a good enough job, they wont get reprimanded. Thats not the direction of success. You want your employees to do the best job they can. This is accomplished through positive reinforcement. Acknowledge your employees success- publicly. Dont hide appreciation like its wrong.
You may even want to consider incentives such as bonuses and prizes as a reward to show that you appreciate a job well-done.
As the owner and CEO of your business, it is your job to ensure your team works well together. Good talent is hard to come by, and there will always be those that want to move on to other work. The trick to keeping your talent is making them happy with your business and ensuring that they work well with your business.
