Nothing boosts morale in the office quite like a good leader. A great boss knows this and also knows that a bad manager is the quickest way to push employees out the door. Many employees leave their jobs because of conflict with their superiors.
This is understandable as a manager has a significant influence on their work. They are the ones who determine whether or not employees receive promotions and bonuses and is in the position to resolve issue and challenges within the workplace. Many don’t realise they have this power and often take their staff for granted. Some employers even make their staff feel discriminated against (1 in 2 respondents in a study by Career Addict cited this as a reason for exiting their job). This is one of the main reasons why a company cannot retain its staff members.
You are an integral part of your employees’ lives and while you don’t have to be friends with them, there is a relationship that needs to be fostered. A good boss provides direction and feedback, connects employees within the company and interacts with staff to understand them. Meanwhile, a bad boss could develop toxic relationships with staff, creating a toxic work environment.
It is important to nurture relationships with your employees and here are some ways you can do that:
Find out what motivates employees
A great boss takes time to talk to staff to find out what motivates employees. Why? Because it helps them gain better insight into what inspires staff and tells them what to do to get the most out of their employees.
You can do this early on when you are introducing a new member to the team. You could also take it a step further and ask your employees what made them feeling demotivated in their previous roles. This will teach you what not to do.
Trust your staff
This is an essential characteristic of a good boss. Staff tend to more satisfied if they feel able to work without constant monitoring. Let’s be honest, no one likes to be micromanaged but employers tend to do just that.
Showing employees that you trust them and letting them work without regular check-ups can lead to increased productivity.
Offer flexibility
If you are looking to boost motivation in the workplace, providing your employees with flexible work options helps. This also shows you care about them, which is one of the notable qualities of a good boss.
If possible, these options will undoubtedly improve motivation and satisfaction in the workplace:
- Days when staff can work from home
- Ending earlier on Fridays
- More leniency with sick leave
- Extra days of annual leave or mental health days
It is easy to introduce flexibility within a company and it need not create extra work for HR. An online leave tracker will efficiently process these additional days of leave, saving them the hassle of having to do so. An online leave tracker will also allow you to keep track of the days your employees take leave, saving confusion for yourself and them.
Communicate often and clearly
Employees appreciate an honest assessment of their performance by their managers. A great boss can provide this feedback while also having an accurate assessment of their progress. Clear communication will help resolve problems and will help inspire employees.
“Communicate, communicate, communicate. Be vulnerable,” executive coach and seasoned entrepreneur Mikael Meir told Workopolis. “Be transparent. These are the elements of trust, and trust is the foundation of a strong relationship,” Meir continued. “Give feedback often – not just through draconian end-of-year performance evaluations. And get personal – ask your employees where they want to be in their career, and how you can help them.”
How to Build Positive Company Culture